Process for preparing 7beta-substituted 6alpha,14alpha-ethenomorphinans and 7beta-substituted 6alpha,14alpha-ethanomorphinans

ABSTRACT

The application is directed to a process for increasing the proportion of 7β-epimer in an 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinan or a 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethanomorphinan, and specifically of compounds of Formula (I), wherein G, R 2 -R 4 , and are defined as set forth in the specification. The application is also directed to a process for purifying the 7β-epimer from an 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinan or a 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethanomorphinan. The application is also directed to a process for preparing 7β-substituted compounds of Formula V b  wherein G and R 2 -R 5  are defined as set forth in the specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This application is in the field of medicinal chemistry. The applicationrelates to a novel process for preparing 7β-substituted6α,14α-ethenomorphinans and 7β-substituted 6α,14α-ethanomorphinans, andthe pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Particularly, theapplication relates to the selective precipitation of 7β-substituted6α,14α-ethenomorphinans or 7β-substituted 6α,14α-ethanomorphinans from amixture containing corresponding 7α-epimers by treating with an acid.Contrary to optical diastereomeric resolution of enantiomers (e.g.,chiral bases) which requires chiral acids to resolve single enantiomers,the separation of the above-mentioned 7α/7β-epimers can be achieved evenwith achiral acids. The application also relates to the novel, isolatedcompounds and salts thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

6α,14α-Ethenomorphinans and 6α,14α-ethanomorphinans are semi-syntheticoripavine or thebaine derivatives. The central structural element ofthis class of molecules is a morphinan ring system with an etheno orethano bridge between the C-6 and C-14 carbons of the morphinanscaffold. Based on the nature of the carbon-carbon-bond between C-18 andC-19, these compounds are classified as 6α,14α-ethenomorphinans(carbon-carbon-double bond) or 6β,14α-ethanomorphinans (saturatedcarbon-carbon bond). The morphinan scaffold has the following structure:

6α,14α-Ethenomorphinan derivatives with a substituent in the 7-positionhave been extensively studied over the last 60 years. During this time,drugs like Buprenorphine (Temgesic®, Subutex®, Suboxone®), Diprenorphine(Revivon®) and Etorphine (Immobilon®) were discovered. Buprenorphine iscommercially the most important representative of this class ofcompounds and has been on the market since 1978 as a powerful analgesicand for the management of opioid dependence.

Buprenorphine,(2S)-2-[17-cyclopropylmethyl-4,5α-epoxy-3-hydroxy-6-methoxy-6α,14α-ethanomorphinan-7α-yl]-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-ol,a semi-synthetic opioid having the structure:

is used to treat opioid addiction, to control moderate acute pain innon-opioid tolerant individuals, and to control moderate chronic pain.Buprenorphine can be derived from either oripavine or thebaine: K. W.Bentley discovered buprenorphine using thebaine as the initial backbonestructure. Thebaine is one of the main alkaloids in the Iranian poppy(Papaver bracteatum). Thebaine can also be isolated from Papaversomniferum which is also a source for oripavine (U.S. Pat. No.6,723,894).

Buprenorphine has an extremely high binding affinity at the μ- andκ-opioid receptors. It has partial agonist activity at the μ-opioidreceptor, partial or full agonist activity at the ORL-1/nociception andδ-opioid receptors, and competitive antagonist activity at the κ-opioidreceptor. Buprenorphine exhibits an analgesic effect approximately 25 to40 times more potent than morphine (by weight of equivalent low doses).Buprenorphine is marketed as oral formulations (tablets, sublingualtablets, and sublingual films), parenteral preparations, and transdermalpatches.

All the above-mentioned drugs within this class of compounds contain analkyl substituent attached to the nitrogen and a hydroxyl group attachedto a lipophilic substituent in 7α-position of the C-ring. Throughcomparison of a large number of derivatives, it has become clear thatthe region above and away from C-7 has a significant impact on theμ-opioid receptor profile of these orvinols and related compounds(Hutchins et al., J. Med. Chem. 27:521-527 (1984); Coop et al., J. Med.Chem. 43:1852-1857 (2000).

This 7α-configuration (e.g. 7α-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinan),found in all commercial drugs of this class of compounds, is however nota structural requirement for opioid receptor affinity, but rather aresult of limited accessibility of the 7β-substituted derivatives (e.g.7β-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinan). The structures of7α-6α,14α-ethenomorphinans/ethanomorphinans and7β-6α,14α-ethenomorphinans/ethanomorphinans are shown in FIG. 1 below:

FIG. 1 Structure of 7α-substituted6α,14α-ethenomorphinan/ethanomorphinan and 7β-substituted6α,14α-ethenomorphinan/ethanomorphinan

In FIG. 1,

can be single bond or a double bond. Biochemical characterization ofβ-etorphine and β-dihydroetorphine derivatives indicate that the7β-substituted derivatives have a comparable high affinity for opioidbinding sites as their corresponding 7α-substituted analogs (Biyashev etal., European Journal of Pharmacology 442:23-27 (2002)). Althoughextensive SAR studies have not been reported for 7β-substituted6α,14α-ethenomorphinans, the limited data available the for theβ-substituted derivative of etorphine indicates that moving thesubstituent from position 7α to 7β decreased the affinity for the κ andδ receptor while the affinity for the receptor remained constant (Maatet al., Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 7:529-541 (1999)).

Although the 7β-substituted derivatives of buprenorphine (Uff et al.,Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry 23:6 (1985)) as well as thecorresponding 7β-substituted derivatives of etorphine (Marton et al.,Tetrahedron 54:9143-9152 (1998)), dihydroetorphine (Marton et al.,supra) and diprenorphine (Marton et al., Synth. Commun. 25:829-848(1995)), alongside the corresponding 7β-substituted processintermediates, were synthesized and characterized, little is generallyknown about the chemical or biological properties of 7β-substituted6α,14α-ethenomorphinans or 7β-substituted 6α,14α-ethanomorphinans. Incontrast, the 7α-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinans and 7α-substituted6α,14α-ethenomorphinans have been extensively studied and characterized.

7β-Substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinans and 7β-substituted6α,14α-ethanomorphinans may be attractive chemotypes with potentiallynew pharmacological properties. However, the isolation processes of7β-6α,14α-ethenomorphinans and 7β-6α,14α-ethenomorphinans described inthe art require multiple process steps and afford the product only in avery low yield.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved process for isolating7β-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinans and 7β-substituted6α,14α-ethanomorphinans.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a process for increasing the proportionof the 7β-epimer in an 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a 7-substituted6α,14α-ethenomorphinan or a 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethanomorphinan. Saidprocess comprises contacting a solution of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture withan acid to provide a precipitate, and isolating the precipitate toprovide an isolated precipitate and a mother liquor. In one embodiment,the acid is an achiral acid. In another embodiment, the acid is a chiralacid.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a process forincreasing the proportion of the 7β-epimer in an 7α/7β-epimer mixture ofcompounds represented by Formula I, below. In one embodiment, the7β-epimer is of Formula V^(b), below.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a process forpurifying the 7β-epimer from a 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a 7-substituted6α,14α-ethenomorphinan or a 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethanomorphinan. Theprocess comprises contacting a solution of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture withan acid under conditions conducive to precipitation of the 7β-epimer,and then isolating the precipitate. The isolation of the precipitateleaves behind a residual mother liquor. In one embodiment, the acid isan achiral acid. In another embodiment, the acid is a chiral acid.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a process forpurifying the 7β-epimer from a 7α/7β-epimer mixture of compoundsrepresented by Formula I, below. In one embodiment, the 7β-epimer is ofFormula V^(b), below.

The present disclosure also provides a process for preparing7β-substituted compounds of Formula I, and the pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts thereof. The process comprises, conducting aDiels-Alder reaction to form a 7α/7β-epimer mixture; forming a firstprecipitate of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture; isolating the first precipitatefrom the reaction mixture to obtain a first mother liquor; optionallyreducing the volume of the first mother liquor, and contacting the firstmother liquor with an acid to provide a second precipitate; isolatingthe second precipitate to obtain the 7β-substituted compound as a saltand a second mother liquor; and optionally converting the salt into itsfree base. The second mother liquor is optionally epimerized andcontacted with the acid to obtain the the 7β-substituted compound as asalt.

The present disclosure also provides novel isolated compounds of FormulaI and salts thereof, and specifically compounds of Formula V^(b) andsalts thereof.

The present disclosure also provides Compounds

or a salt thereof. In another aspect of the present disclosure the useof these compounds or a salt thereof as a medicament is provided. In yetanother aspect, the compounds or a salt thereof are used in treatment orprevention of pain, such as acute pain, chronic pain, or surgical pain.In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides use of theseCompounds of the Invention or a salt thereof in the manufacture of amedicament for treating or preventing pain, such as acute pain, chronicpain, or surgical pain. The present disclosure further provides methodsof treating or preventing pain, comprising administering to a patient inneed thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a Compound of theInvention. In certain embodiments, the pain includes acute pain, chronicpain, and surgical pain. In another aspect, the disclosure provides apharmaceutical composition, comprising a therapeutically effectiveamount of any one of the above compounds or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptablecarriers.

Additional embodiments and advantages of the disclosure will be setforth, in part, in the description that follows, and will flow from thedescription, or can be learned by practice of the disclosure. Theembodiments and advantages of the disclosure will be realized andattained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing summary and the followingdetailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are notrestrictive of the invention as claimed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

6α,14α-Ethenomorphinans are synthesized in the literature using asynthetic pathway comprising of a Diels-Alder reaction between amorphinan-6,8-diene and a dienophile as shown below in Scheme 1. Whenthebaine (B) or oripavine (A) is the diene, the 6-methoxy groupdetermines the stereo- and regioselectivity of the Diels-Alder reactionby polarizing the diene system, and the major product of thecycloaddition reaction is the 7α-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinanalong with a minor amount (˜1-5%) of the 7β-substituted isomer (exceptfor compounds where CN is in the position for R³, wherein the product ofthe cycloaddition reaction forms an about 1:1 mixture of 7α- and7β-epimers). Due to a high regio-selectivity of the reaction,8-substituted isomers are usually not observed at all (Bentley et al.,J. Am. Chem. Soc. 89:3267-3273 (1967); Ghosh et al., J. Org. Chem.48:4137-4139 (1983)).

The 7α-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinan is a precipitate that isisolated by a simple filtration and usually obtained in high puritywithout the need for an additional purification process. Since the7α-substituted derivative is accessible by such a simple isolationprocess, it is usually used as scaffold for further derivatization.

Since the Diels-Alder reaction between a morphinan-6,8-diene and adienophile affords almost exclusively the 7α-adduct, the isolation ofthe 7β-epimer (e.g. E or F) requires, compared to the isolation of the7α-isomer (e.g. C or D), a much more elaborated purification process andaffords the 7β-epimer only in a very low yield. For example, Diels-Alderreaction of methyl vinyl ketone with thebaine (B) afforded 7α-isomer Din 98% yield by simple filtration. From the filtrate, the 7β-isomer Fwas isolated by fractional crystallization in a total yield of 0.49%(Bentley et al., supra).

Also, Marton et al. (Synth. Commun. 25:829-848 (1995)) describe anotherexample of the cumbersome purification process which describes thecurrently best-known protocol for the isolation of a β-isomer. In thisprocess, starting from thebaine, the separation of theβ-dihydrothevinone is reported in an overall yield of 0.92%.

It has now been discovered that 7β-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinansand 7β-substituted 6α,14α-ethanomorphinans can easily be separated froman epimer mixture with the corresponding 7α-epimers in a simple processaffording the 7β-epimers in about 98-100% purity and high recovery (fromabout 40% to over 80%).

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a process for increasingthe proportion of the 7β-epimer in an 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a7-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinan or a 7-substituted6α,14α-ethanomorphinan, said process comprising: contacting a solutionof the 7α/7β-epimer mixture with an acid to provide a precipitate, andisolating the precipitate to provide an isolated precipitate and amother liquor.

In one embodiment, the process of the present invention increases theproportion of the 7β-epimer in an 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a compound ofFormula I:

wherein:

G is R¹ or a hydroxyl protecting group PG;

R¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl, wherein thecycloalkyl, heterocyclo, aryl, and heteroaryl portions thereof areoptionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl,carboxy, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl;

R² is

(a) hydrogen, cyano, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or carboxamido; or

(b) alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo,aryl, heteroaryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, (arylalkoxy)carbonyl, or(heteroarylalkoxy)carbonyl, any of which is optionally substituted with1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl;

R³ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkenyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkenyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkenyl,arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroarylalkyl, heteroarylalkenyl,alkylcarbonyl, (arylalkyl)carbonyl, formyl and cyano, wherein any ofwhich, when other than formyl or cyano, is optionally substituted with1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy,alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl;

R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkenyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkenyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkenyl,arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroarylalkyl, and heteroarylalkenyl, whereinany of which, when other than hydrogen, is optionally substituted with1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl; and

is a single bond or a double bond.

The 7β-epimer and the 7α-epimer of compounds of Formula I can berepresented as Formulae I^(b) and I^(a), respectively:

In another embodiment, the process of the present invention increasesthe proportion of the 7β-epimer in an 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a compoundof Formula II:

wherein:

G is R¹ or a hydroxyl protecting group PG;

R¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl, wherein thecycloalkyl, heterocyclo, aryl, and heteroaryl portions thereof areoptionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl,carboxy, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl;

R² is

(a) hydrogen, cyano, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or carboxamido; or

(b) alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo,aryl, heteroaryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, (arylalkoxy)carbonyl, or(heteroarylalkoxy)carbonyl, any of which is optionally substituted with1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl;

R³¹ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkenyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkenyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkenyl,arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroarylalkyl, heteroarylalkenyl,alkylcarbonyl, (arylalkyl)carbonyl, and formyl, wherein any of which,when other than formyl, is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting ofhydroxy, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl;

R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkenyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkenyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkenyl,arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroarylalkyl, and heteroarylalkenyl, whereinany of which, when other than hydrogen, is optionally substituted with1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl; and

is a single bond or a double bond.

In this aspect of the present invention, the isolated precipitatecontains an increased proportion of the 7β-epimer as a salt relative tothe 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a compound of Formula II. In one embodiment,the proportion of the 7β-epimer in the isolated precipitate is at leastabout 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, or at least about90%.

In another embodiment, the process of the present invention increasesthe proportion of the 7β-epimer in an 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a compoundof Formula III:

wherein:

G is R¹ or a hydroxyl protecting group PG;

R¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl, wherein thecycloalkyl, heterocyclo, aryl, and heteroaryl portions thereof areoptionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl,carboxy, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl;

R² is

(a) hydrogen, cyano, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or carboxamido; or

(b) alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo,aryl, heteroaryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, (arylalkoxy)carbonyl, or(heteroarylalkoxy)carbonyl, any of which is optionally substituted with1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl;

R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkenyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkenyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkenyl,arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroarylalkyl, and heteroarylalkenyl, whereinany of which, when other than hydrogen, is optionally substituted with1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl; and

is a single bond or a double bond.

In this aspect of the present invention, an increased proportion of the7β-epimer salt, relative to the 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a compound ofFormula III, can be found in the isolated precipitate or in the motherliquor depending on the conditions (i.e., the acid and/or the solvent)of the precipitation. In one embodiment, the isolated precipitatecontains an increased proportion of the 7β-epimer as a salt relative tothe 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a compound of Formula III. In thisembodiment, the proportion of the 7β-epimer in the isolated precipitateis at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, or atleast about 90%. In another embodiment, the mother liquor contains anincreased proportion of the 7β-epimer as a salt relative to the7α/7β-epimer mixture of a compound of Formula III. In this embodiment,the proportion of the 7β-epimer in the mother liquor is at least about60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, or at least about 90%.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a process forpurifying the 7β-epimer from an 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a 7-substituted6α,14α-ethenomorphinan or a 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethanomorphinan. Saidprocess comprises contacting a solution of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture withan acid under conditions conducive to precipitation of the 7β-epimer,and isolating the precipitate. In one embodiment, the proportion of the7β-epimer as a salt in the isolated precipitate relative to the7α/7β-epimer mixture is at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at leastabout 80%, or at least about 90%.

In one embodiment, the process comprises purifying the 7β-epimer from an7α/7β-epimer mixture of a compound of Formula I.

In another embodiment, the process comprises purifying the 7β-epimerfrom an 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a compound of Formula II.

In another embodiment, the process comprises purifying the 7β-epimerfrom an 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a compound of Formula III.

The 7α/7β-epimer mixture used in the processes of the present inventioncan be, for example, the reaction mixture after the Diels-Alder reaction(e.g., the mother liquor obtained after the first precipitate isfiltered off), the reaction mixture after further functionalization ofthe ketone group (e.g., after the reaction with a Grignard reagent), orthe reaction mixture after the hydrogenation of the double bond. In oneembodiment, the 7α/7β-epimer mixture used in the processes of thepresent invention is the product of the epimerization of the firstprecipitate or the mother liquor obtained after the salt formation. Inone embodiment, prior to contacting with the acid, the reaction mixtureis typically concentrated, and then any precipitation is dissolved byoptionally adding a solvent and by heating to obtain a solution.

In another embodiment, the mother liquor is concentrated to dryness andthe residue is redissolved in a solvent at an elevated temperature toobtain a solution before adding the acid.

In certain embodiments, the 7α/7β-epimer mixture can be an isolatedprecipitate that is further purified with respect to the 7β-epimer bythe processes of the present invention. In this aspect of the invention,the 7α/7β-epimer mixture is first dissolved in a solvent at an elevatedtemperature to obtain a solution of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture beforeadding the acid.

In one embodiment, the solution of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture is contactedwith the acid at about room temperature. In another embodiment, thesolution of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture is contacted with the acid at about50° C. to about the boiling point of the solution. Preferably, thetemperature of the solution is from about 55° C. to the refluxtemperature of the solvent, and more preferably the temperature of thesolution is from about 60° C. to the reflux temperature of the solvent.In another embodiment, the temperature of the solution of the7α/7β-epimer mixture is from about 55° C. to about 80° C., and morepreferably the temperature is from about 60° C. to about 80° C.

Suitable solvents to be used in the process of the present inventioninclude, for example, aliphatic alcohols, aromatic solvents, ethers(such as aliphatic ethers or THF), and acetonitrile, or combinationsthereof. Typically, the solvent is an aliphatic alcohol, an aromaticsolvent, and aliphatic ether, or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the solvent is an aliphatic alcohol or mixturesthereof. Suitable aliphatic alcohols include C₁₋₆ alcohols, such asmethanol, ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, n-butanol, n-pentanol, andn-hexanol, and preferably methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, andiso-propanol, and preferably iso-propanol.

In another embodiment, the solvent is an aromatic solvent. Suitablearomatic solvents include, for example, toluene, xylene and benzene, andpreferably toluene.

In another embodiment, the solvent is an aliphatic ether. Suitablealiphatic ethers include, for example, C₅₋₆ cycloalkyl(C₁₋₆)alkylethers, such as cyclopentyl methyl ether.

Typically, the solvent in the processes of the present invention isselected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol,iso-propanol, toluene, and cyclopropyl methyl ether, or the solvent canbe a combination (i.e., a mixture) of these solvents.

The solution of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture is contacted with the acideither at the elevated temperature or after cooling it, for example, toroom temperature. Typically, the solution of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture iscontacted with the acid at an elevated temperature and then the mixtureis cooled to form a precipitate. The solution of the 7α/7β-epimermixture is contacted with the acid, for example, by simply adding,preferably portion wise (or dropwise when dissolved in a suitablesolvent), a sufficient amount of the acid to the solution and mixing.The sufficient amount of the acid is an amount that is necessary forconverting the 7β-epimer of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture into its salt. Inone embodiment, the amount of the acid is from about 0.5 to about 1.5equivalents based on the amount of the 7β-epimer. In another embodiment,the amount of the acid is from about 0.8 to about 1.3 equivalents,preferably from about 0.9 to about 1.2 equivalents, and more preferablyabout 1.0 or about 1.1 equivalents based on the amount of the 7β-epimer.The amount of the 7β-epimer of the 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinanor the 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethanomorphinan can be determined byconventional methods described in the art, such as, for example by ¹HNMR: interation of the H-5 protons, as described in Uff et al., MagneticResonance in Chemistry 23:6 (1985); Marton, J., et al., Acta ChemicaScandinavia 52:1234-1238 (1998); and Derrick, I., et al., TetrahedronLetters 41:7571-7576 (2000), and by HPLC as described in the examples.

In one embodiment, the proportion of the 7β-epimer in the 7α/7β-epimermixture is at least about 20%. In another embodiment, the proportion ofthe 7β-epimer in the 7α/7β-epimer mixture is at least about 50%.

In one embodiment the acid is an achiral acid. In another embodiment,the acid is a chiral acid.

In one embodiment, the acid is selected from the group consisting of analiphatic monocarboxylic acid and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, or acombination thereof, any of which is optionally substituted. In anotherembodiment, the acid is an optionally substituted, saturated orunsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, and preferably a saturated orunsaturated C₁₋₆ aliphatic monocarboxylic acid optionally substitutedwith 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of halogen and hydroxy. Typically, in this aspect of theinvention, the acid is a saturated, unsubstituted C₁₋₄ aliphaticmonocarboxylic acid, or a saturated C₁₋₄ aliphatic monocarboxylic acidsubstituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents, each independently selectedfrom the group consisting of fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, and hydroxy.Advantageously, the monocarboxylic acid is selected from the groupconsisting of acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), trichloroaceticacid, and tribromoacetic acid, and preferably TFA.

In another embodiment, the acid is an optionally substituted, saturatedor unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, and preferably a saturatedC₂₋₆ aliphatic dicarboxylic acid optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting ofhalogen and hydroxy. Typically, in this aspect of the invention, theacid is an unsaturated C₂₋₆ aliphatic dicarboxylic acid optionallysubstituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selectedfrom the group consisting of halogen and hydroxy, and preferably anunsaturated, unsubstituted C₂₋₆ aliphatic dicarboxylic acid.Advantageously, the dicarboxylic acid is fumaric acid or maleic acid.

The precipitate can be isolated by any conventional separation process.Suitable separation processes for isolating the precipitate include, forexample, filtration, such as vacuum filtration, and centrifugalseparations. Preferably, the precipitate is isolated by filtration, andthe filter cake is optionally washed to remove any residual motherliquor.

In another embodiment, G in compounds of any of Formulae I-III is R¹.

In another embodiment, R¹ is hydrogen.

In another embodiment, R¹ is alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl, andspecifically C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₂₋₄ alkenyl, or C₂₋₄ alkynyl. In anotherembodiment, R¹ is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl,tert-butyl, iso-butyl, or sec-butyl, and advantageously R¹ is methyl. Inanother embodiment, R¹ is ethenyl, propenyl, isopropenyl, butenyl, orsec-butenyl. In another embodiment, R¹ is ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, or2-butynyl.

In another embodiment, R¹ is (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl,arylalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl, heterocyclo,aryl, or heteroaryl portions thereof are optionally substituted with 1,2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, carboxy, alkoxy,alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl.

Suitable (cycloalkyl)alkyl groups for R¹ include C₃₋₇cycloalkyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl groups, and specifically C₃₋₆cycloalkyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl groups, wherein the cycloalkyl portion isoptionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl,carboxy, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl. In anotherembodiment, R¹ is cyclopropyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, cyclobutyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl,cyclopentyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or cyclohexyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, optionally substitutedwith 1 or 2 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, carboxy, C₁₋₄alkoxy, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₄ alkoxycarbonyl. In anotherembodiment, R¹ is unsubstituted (cyclopropyl)methyl,2-(cyclopropyl)ethyl or 3-(cyclopropyl)propyl.

Suitable (heterocyclo)alkyl groups for R¹ include 5- or 6-memberedheterocyclo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, wherein the heterocyclo portion is optionallysubstituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents each independently selectedfrom the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, carboxy,alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; and typically optionallysubstituted with 1 or 2 substituents, each independently selected fromthe group consisting of hydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl,carboxy, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₄ alkoxycarbonyl. Inanother embodiment, R¹ is unsubstituted 5- or 6-memberedheterocyclo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, such as tetrahydrofuranyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl.

Suitable arylalkyl groups for R¹ include aryl(C₁₋₄)alkyl groups whereinthe aryl portion is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents,each independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl,halo, haloalkyl, carboxy, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; andtypically optionally substituted with 1 or 2 substituents, eachindependently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkyl,halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, carboxy, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyl, andC₁₋₄ alkoxycarbonyl. In another embodiment, R′ is C₆₋₁₀ aryl(C₁₋₄)alkylsubstituted with one or two substituents, each independently selectedfrom the group consisting of hydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl,carboxy, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₄ alkoxycarbonyl. Inanother embodiment, R¹ is benzyl, phenethyl, or naphthylmethylsubstituted with 1 or 2 substituents, each independently selected fromthe group consisting of hydroxy, methyl, ethyl, fluorine, bromine,iodine, chlorine, trifluoromethyl, carboxy, methoxy, ethoxy,methylcarbonyl, ethylcarbonyl, methoxycarbonyl, and ethoxycarbonyl. Inanother embodiment, R¹ is unsubstituted C₆₋₁₀ aryl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, such asbenzyl, phenethyl, 3-phenylpropyl, 4-phenylbutyl, naphthylmethyl,2-naphthylethyl, 3-naphthylpropyl, and 4-naphthylbutyl; typically benzyland phenethyl, and especially benzyl.

Suitable heteroarylalkyl groups for R′ include heteroaryl(C₁₋₄)alkylgroups wherein the heteroaryl portion is optionally substituted with 1,2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, carboxy, alkoxy,alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; and typically optionally substitutedwith 1 or 2 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, carboxy, C₁₋₄alkoxy, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₄ alkoxycarbonyl. In anotherembodiment, R¹ is 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, such asfuranyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, substituted with 1 or 2 substituents, eachindependently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkyl,halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, carboxy, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyl, andC₁₋₄ alkoxycarbonyl; and typically each independently selected from thegroup consisting of hydroxy, halo, halo(C₁₋₂)alkyl, carboxy, C₁₋₂alkoxy, C₁₋₂ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₂ alkoxycarbonyl.

In another embodiment, R² in compounds of any of Formulae I-III ishydrogen, cyano, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or carboxamido. In thisaspect of the invention, typically R² is hydrogen, cyano, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxycarbonyl, —CONH₂, —CON(H)C₁₋₄ alkyl, —CON(C₁₋₄alkyl)₂, or —CON(H)Ph.

In another embodiment, R² is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl,(arylalkoxy)carbonyl, or (heteroarylalkoxy)carbonyl, any of which isoptionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl,alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl. Useful compounds includethose where R² is C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₂₋₆ alkenyl, C₂₋₆ alkynyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkenyl, 5- or 6-membered heterocyclo, aryl, 5- or6-membered heteroaryl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkenyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, 5- or 6-membered heterocyclo(C₁₋₄)alkyl,aryl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl(C₁₋₄)alkyl,aryl(C₁₋₄)alkoxycarbonyl, or 5- or 6-memberedheteroaryl(C₁₋₄)alkoxycarbonyl, any of which is optionally substitutedwith 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl. In another embodiment, R² is C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₂₋₆alkenyl, C₂₋₆ alkynyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkenyl, 5- or6-membered heterocyclo, C₆₋₁₀ aryl, 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, C₃₋₇(cycloalkyl)(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₃₋₇ (cycloalkenyl)(C₁₋₄)alkyl, 5- or6-membered heterocyclo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₆₋₁₀ aryl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, 5- or6-membered heteroaryl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₆₋₁₀ aryl(C₁₋₄)alkoxycarbonyl, or 5-or 6-membered heteroaryl(C₁₋₄)alkoxycarbonyl, any of which is optionallysubstituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selectedfrom the group consisting of hydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl,C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₄ alkoxycarbonyl, and especiallyoptionally substituted with 1 or 2 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, methyl, ethyl, halo,trifluoromethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, methylcarbonyl, ethylcarbonyl,methoxycarbonyl, and ethoxycarbonyl. In another embodiment, R² is C₃₋₇(cycloalkyl)(C₁₋₄)alkyl or C₃₋₇ (cycloalkenyl)(C₁₋₄)alkyl, andespecially C₃₋₇ (cycloalkyl)(C₁₋₄)alkyl, such as cyclopropyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl,cyclobutyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, cyclopentyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or cyclohexyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl,optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkyl, halo,halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₄alkoxycarbonyl, and especially optionally substituted with 1 or 2substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting ofhydroxy, methyl, ethyl, halo, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, ethoxy,methylcarbonyl, ethylcarbonyl, methoxycarbonyl, and ethoxycarbonyl. Inanother embodiment, R² is unsubstituted (cyclopropyl)methyl,2-(cyclopropyl)ethyl or 3-(cyclopropyl)propyl.

In another embodiment, R³ in compounds of Formula I or R³¹ in compoundsof Formula II is selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₂₋₆alkenyl, C₂₋₆ alkynyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkenyl, 5- to6-membered heterocyclo, C₆₋₁₂ aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkenyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkenyl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, 5- to6-membered heterocyclo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, 5- to 6-memberedheterocyclo(C₂₋₄)alkenyl, C₆₋₁₂ aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, C₆₋₁₂aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, 5- to10-membered heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, C₁₋₆ alkylcarbonyl, (C₆₋₁₂aryl(C₁₋₄)alkyl)carbonyl, and formyl, wherein any of which, when otherthan formyl, is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents,each independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl,hydroxy(C₁₋₆)alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₅)alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₆ alkoxycarbonyl. In another embodiment, R³ isC₁₋₆ alkylcarbonyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with 1, 2, or3 substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting ofhydroxy, alkyl, hydroxy(C₁₋₆)alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₆)alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy,C₁₋₆ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₆ alkoxycarbonyl.

In another embodiment, R⁴ in compounds of any of Formulae I-III isselected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₂₋₆alkenyl, C₂₋₆ alkynyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkenyl, 5- to6-membered heterocyclo, C₆₋₁₂ aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkenyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkenyl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, 5- to6-membered heterocyclo(C₁₋₆)alkyl, 5- to 6-memberedheterocyclo(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, C₆₋₁₂ aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, C₆₋₁₂aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, and 5- to10-membered heteroaryl(C₁₋₆)alkenyl, wherein any of which, when otherthan hydrogen, is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents,each independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₆)alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl. Typically, R⁴ is hydrogen or unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In another embodiment,

is a single bond in compounds of any of Formulae I-III.

In another embodiment,

is a double bond in compounds of any of Formulae I-III.

In another embodiment, the 7β-epimer of compounds of any of FormulaeI-II is represented by Formula IV:

whereinR¹, R², R⁴, G, and

are as defined above for Formula I, and R⁵ is H or C₁₋₆ alkyl, which isunsubstituted or substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, eachindependently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy,hydroxy(C₁₋₄)alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₆ alkoxycarbonyl.

In another embodiment, the 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a compound of FormulaI is represented by Formula V:

whereinR¹, R², R⁴, and G are as defined above for Formula I, and R⁵ is C₁₋₆alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with 1, 2, or 3substituents, each independently selected form the group consisting ofhydroxy, hydroxy(C₁₋₄)alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₄ alkoxycarbonyl.

In another embodiment, in compounds of any of Formulae I-V, R¹ ishydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, or benzyl; R² is C₂₋₆ alkenyl,cyclopropyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, cyclobutyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, cyclopentyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl,or cyclohexyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting ofhydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₄ alkoxycarbonyl; and R⁴ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl. In another embodiment, R² is unsubstituted C₂₋₆ alkenyl orunsubstituted cyclopropyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl. In another embodiment, R² is(cyclopropyl)methyl. In another embodiment, R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl,or benzyl. In another embodiment, R² is (cyclopropyl)methyl.

In another embodiment, G in compounds of any of Formulae I-V is ahydroxyl protecting group PG.

Suitable hydroxyl protecting groups for PG are well known and include,for example, any suitable hydroxyl protecting group disclosed in Wuts,P. G. M. & Greene, T. W., Greene's Protective Groups in OrganicSynthesis, 4rd Ed., pp. 16-430 (J. Wiley & Sons, 2007), hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety. The term “hydroxyl protectinggroup” as used herein refers to group that blocks (i.e., protects) thehydroxy functionality while reactions are carried out on otherfunctional groups or parts of the molecule. Those skilled in the artwill be familiar with the selection, attachment, and cleavage ofprotecting groups and will appreciate that many different protectivegroups are known in the art, the suitability of one protective group oranother being dependent on the particular the synthetic scheme planned.Suitable hydroxyl protecting groups are generally able to be selectivelyintroduced and removed using mild reaction conditions that do notinterfere with other portions of the subject compounds. These protectinggroups can be introduced or removed at a convenient stage using methodsknown in the art. The chemical properties of such groups, methods fortheir introduction and removal are known in the art and can be found,for example, in Greene, T. W. and Wuts, P. G. M., above. Additionalhydroxy protecting groups can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.5,952,495, U.S. Patent Appl. Pub. No. 2008/0312411, WO 2006/035195, andWO 98/02033, herein incorporated in their entirety. Suitable hydroxylprotecting groups include the methoxymethyl, tetrahydropyranyl,tert-butyl, allyl, tert-butyldimethylsilyl, tert-butyldiphenylsilyl,acetyl, pivaloyl, benzoyl, benzyl (Bn), and p-methoxybenzyl group.

It is apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that certaingroups included in the definitions of R¹ and PG are overlapping, such astert-butyl, benzyl, etc., and, thus, certain compounds of Formulae I-Vhaving R¹ groups that act as hydroxyl protecting groups can bepharmaceutically active.

In one embodiment, the hydroxyl protecting group PG is selected from thegroup consisting of alkyl, arylalkyl, heterocyclo, (heterocyclo)alkyl,acyl, silyl, and carbonate, any of which are optionally substituted.

In another embodiment, the hydroxyl protecting group is an alkyl group,typically an optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl group, and suitablyunsubstituted methyl or tert-butyl.

In another embodiment, the hydroxyl protecting group PG is an arylalkylgroup. Suitable arylalkyl groups include, for example, an unsubstitutedbenzyl group, substituted benzyl groups, such as p-methoxybenzyl, andnaphthylmethyl.

In another embodiment, the hydroxyl protecting group PG is a heterocyclogroup, such as unsubstituted tetrahydropyranyl or optionally substitutedtetrahydropyranyl.

In another embodiment, the hydroxyl protecting group PG is a silylgroup. The term “silyl” as employed herein refers to the following grouphaving the structure:

wherein R⁶, R⁷, and R⁸ are each independently selected from the groupconsisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, or arylalkyl,any of which is optionally substituted. In one embodiment, the silylgroup is trimethyl silyl, tert-butyldimethyl silyl, tert-butyldiphenylsilyl, or tri-isopropyl silyl.

In another embodiment, the hydroxyl protecting group PG is an acylgroup. The term “acyl” as employed herein refers to the followingstructure:

wherein R⁹ is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, or arylalkyl,any of which is optionally substituted. The acyl group can be, forexample, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyl (such as, for example, acetyl), arylcarbonyl(such as, for example, benzoyl), levulinoyl, or pivaloyl. In anotherembodiment, the acyl group is benzoyl.

In another embodiment, the hydroxyl protecting group is a carbonategroup. The term “carbonate” as employed herein refers to the followingstructure:

wherein R¹⁰ is alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, orarylalkyl, any of which is optionally substituted. Typically, R¹⁰ isC₁₋₁₀ alkyl (e.g., 2,4-dimethylpent-3-yl), C₂₋₆ alkenyl (e.g., ethenylor prop-2-enyl, i.e., allyl), C₃₋₁₂ cycloalkyl (e.g., adamantyl),phenyl, or benzyl.

In another embodiment, the hydroxyl protecting group is a carbamategroup. The term “carbamate” as employed herein refers to the followingstructure:

wherein R¹¹ is alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, orarylalkyl, any of which is optionally substituted. Typically, R¹¹ isC₁₋₁₀ alkyl (e.g., tert-butyl, 2,4-dimethylpent-3-yl), C₂₋₆ alkenyl(e.g., ethenyl or prop-2-enyl, i.e., allyl), C₃₋₁₂ cycloalkyl (e.g.,adamantyl), phenyl, or benzyl.

The present invention also pertains to the preparation of 7β-substitutedcompounds of Formula I^(b):

and the salts thereof, wherein

G and R²-R⁴ are as defined above for Formula I, comprising:

a) conducting a Diels-Alder reaction between a compound of Formula VI:

wherein G and R² are as defined above for Formula I, and a compoundselected from the group consisting of:

wherein R⁵ is as defined above for Formula IV, to form a 7α/7β-epimermixture of the compound of Formula I, where

is a double bond;

b) forming a first precipitate of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture;

c) isolating the first precipitate from the reaction mixture to obtain afirst mother liquor;

d) optionally reducing the volume of the first mother liquor, andcontacting the first mother liquor with an acid to provide a secondprecipitate;

e) isolating the second precipitate to obtain the compound of FormulaI^(b) as a salt, wherein

is a double bond, and a second mother liquor;

f) optionally converting the salt into its free base; and

g) optionally hydrogenating the double bond to obtain a compound ofFormula I^(b), wherein

is a single bond.

The second mother liquor and/or the first precipitate are optionallyepimerized and processed according to step d) above.

The present invention also pertains to the preparation of 7β-substitutedcompounds of Formula V^(b):

and the salts thereof, wherein

G is R¹ or a hydroxyl protecting group PG;

R¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl, wherein thecycloalkyl, heterocyclo, aryl, and heteroaryl portions thereof areoptionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl,carboxy, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl;

R² is

(a) hydrogen, cyano, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or carboxamido; or

(b) alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo,aryl, heteroaryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, (arylalkoxy)carbonyl, or(heteroarylalkoxy)carbonyl, any of which is optionally substituted with1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl;

R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkenyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkenyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkenyl,arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroarylalkyl, and heteroarylalkenyl, whereinany of which, when other than hydrogen, is optionally substituted with1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl; and

R⁵ is C₁₋₆ alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with 1, 2, or 3substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting ofhydroxy, hydroxy(C₁₋₄)alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyl,and C₁₋₄ alkoxycarbonyl, comprising:

a) conducting a Diels-Alder reaction between a compound of Formula VI:

wherein G, R², and R⁴ are as defined above, and a compound of FormulaVII:

wherein R⁵ is as defined above, to form a 7α/7β-epimer mixture of thecompound of Formula V;

b) forming a first precipitate of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture;

c) isolating the first precipitate from the reaction mixture to obtain afirst mother liquor;

d) optionally reducing the volume of the first mother liquor, andcontacting the first mother liquor with an acid to provide a secondprecipitate;

e) isolating the second precipitate to obtain the compound of FormulaV^(b) as a salt, and a second mother liquor; and

f) optionally converting the salt into its free base.

In one embodiment, the proportion of the 7β-epimer in the first motherliquor obtained from the Diels-Alder reaction is at least about 10%, atleast about 15%, at least about 20%, or at least about 25%.

The first precipitate typically forms upon cooling the Diels-Alderreaction mixture and contains the 7α-epimer as the major product. Thefirst precipitate can be isolated by, e.g., filtration, such as vacuumfiltration, or centrifugal separators. Typically, the first motherliquor is partially concentrated, e.g., by evaporation, after theisolation of the first precipitate of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture. Thenpreferably, the first mother liquor is heated to dissolve anyprecipitate of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture and to obtain a solutioncontaining the 7α/7β-epimer mixture. Optionally one or more additionalsolvents can be added to the first mother liquor. In another embodiment,the first mother liquor is concentrated to dryness and the residue isredissolved in a solvent to obtain a solution. Useful solvents are thosedescribed above in connection with Formula I, and are typically selectedfrom the group consisting of aliphatic alcohols, aromatic solvents,aliphatic ethers, and combination's thereof. Preferably, the solvent isiso-propanol (IPA). Typically, the partially concentrated first motherliquor including the optional additional solvent, or the solutionobtained from the residue, are heated to a temperature of about 50° C.to about the boiling point of the solution. Preferably, the temperatureis from about 55° C. to the reflux temperature of the solvent, and morepreferably the temperature is from about 60° C. to the refluxtemperature of the solvent. In another embodiment, the temperature isfrom about 55° C. to about 80° C., and more preferably the temperatureis from about 60° C. to about 80° C. The term “solvent” herein, includesmixtures/combinations of one or more solvents.

The heated first mother liquor is then contacted with an acid to obtaina second precipitate. In another embodiment, the heated mother liquor isfirst cooled down, for example to room temperature, and then contactedwith the acid to obtain the second precipitate. Suitable and preferableacids are those described above in connection with the processes forincreasing the proportion of the 7β-epimer and purifying the 7β-epimer.In one embodiment, the acid is TFA. In another embodiment, the amount ofthe acid used is from about 0.5 to about 1.5 equivalents based on theamount of the 7β-epimer. In another embodiment, the acid is used in anamount of from about 0.8 to about 1.3 equivalents, preferably from about0.9 to about 1.2 equivalents, and more preferably about 1.0 or about 1.1equivalents based on the amount of the 7β-epimer.

The second precipitate can be isolated by, e.g., vacuum filtration orcentrifugal separators. In one embodiment, the proportion of the7β-epimer in the second precipitate is at least about 60%, at leastabout 70%, at least about 80%, or at least about 90%.

The salts formed in the processes of the present invention can beconverted to their free bases by methods known in the art and by themethods described in the examples.

The mother liquor obtained after isolating the second precipitate (thesecond mother liquor) is enriched with the 7α-epimer, which can beepimerized, for example, by reacting with potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) ordiazabicycloundec-7-ene (DBU), and then repeating the process asdescribed above to obtain a further second precipitate of the 7β-epimer.The epimerization can be conducted, for example, as described by Marton,J., et al., Acta Chemica Scandinavia 52:1234-1238 (1998), and Derrick,I., et al., Tetrahedron Letters 41:7571-7576 (2000).

The first precipitate is also enriched with the 7α-epimer. This can beepimerized as described above by reacting with, for example, potassiumcarbonate (K₂CO₃) or diazabicycloundec-7-ene (DBU), and then repeatingthe process as described above to obtain a further second precipitate ofthe 7β-epimer.

Optional substituents attached to aryl, phenyl and heteroaryl rings eachtake the place of a hydrogen atom that would otherwise be present in anyposition on the aryl, phenyl or heteroaryl rings.

Useful halo or halogen groups include fluorine, chlorine, bromine andiodine.

Useful alkyl groups are selected from straight-chain and branched-chainC₁₋₁₀ alkyl groups. Typical C₁₋₁₀ alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl,propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, iso-butyl, pentyl,3-pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl and decyl, among others. In oneembodiment, useful alkyl groups are selected from straight chain C₁₋₆alkyl groups and branched chain C₃₋₆ alkyl groups. Typical C₁₋₆ alkylgroups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl,tert-butyl, iso-butyl, pentyl, 3-pentyl, hexyl, among others. In oneembodiment, useful alkyl groups are selected from straight chain C₂₋₆alkyl groups and branched chain C₃₋₆ alkyl groups. Typical C₂₋₆ alkylgroups include ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl,iso-butyl, pentyl, 3-pentyl, hexyl among others. In one embodiment,useful alkyl groups are selected from straight chain C₁₋₄ alkyl groupsand branched chain C₃₋₄ alkyl groups. Typical C₁₋₄ alkyl groups includemethyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl,iso-butyl.

Useful cycloalkyl groups are selected from saturated cyclic hydrocarbongroups containing one to three rings having from three to twelve carbonatoms (i.e., C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl) or the number of carbons designated. Inone embodiment, the cycloalkyl has one or two rings. In anotherembodiment, the cycloalkyl is a C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl. Exemplary cycloalkylgroups include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl,cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, norbornyl, decalin, adamantyl and the like.

Useful cycloalkenyl groups are selected from partially unsaturated(containing one or two double bonds) cyclic hydrocarbon groupscontaining one to three rings having from four to twelve carbon atoms(i.e., C₄-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl) or the number of carbons designated. In oneembodiment, the cycloalkenyl has one or two rings. In anotherembodiment, the cycloalkenyl is a C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl. In one embodiment,the cycloalkenyl group contains one double bond. Exemplary cycloalkenylgroups containing one double bond include cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl,cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, cyclooctenyl, cyclononenyl, cyclodecenyl,among others. In another embodiment, the cycloalkenyl group contains twodouble bonds. Preferably, the cycloalkenyl groups containing two doublebonds have from five to twelve carbon atoms (i.e., C₅-C₁₂cycloalkadienyl). Exemplary cycloalkenyl groups having two double bondsinclude cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexadienyl, cycloheptadienyl,cyclooctadienyl, cyclononadienyl, cyclodecadienyl, among others.

Useful alkenyl groups are selected from straight-chain andbranched-chain C₂₋₆ alkenyl groups, preferably C₂₋₄ alkenyl. TypicalC₂₋₆ alkenyl groups include ethenyl, propenyl, isopropenyl, butenyl,sec-butenyl, pentenyl, and hexenyl. Typical C₂₋₄ alkenyl groups includeethenyl, propenyl, isopropenyl, butenyl, and sec-butenyl.

Useful alkynyl groups are selected from straight-chain andbranched-chain C₂₋₆ alkynyl groups, preferably C₂₋₄ alkynyl. TypicalC₂₋₆ alkynyl groups include ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, 2-butynyl,pentynyl, and hexynyl groups. Typical C₂₋₄ alkynyl groups includeethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, and 2-butynyl groups.

Useful haloalkyl groups include any of the above-mentioned C₁₋₁₀ alkylgroups substituted by one or more fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodineatoms (e.g., fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl,pentafluoroethyl, 1,1-difluoroethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl,2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, 4,4,4-trifluorobutyl, andtrichloromethyl groups).

Useful hydroxyalkyl groups include any of the above-mentioned C₁₋₁₀alkyl groups substituted by one or more hydroxy groups, such asmonohydroxyalkyl and dihydroxyalkyl groups (e.g., hydroxymethyl,hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl and hydroxypentyl groups, andespecially 2-hydroxy-3,3-dimethylbut-2-yl, 2-hydroxypent-2-yl,2-hydroxyprop-2-yl, hydroxymethyl, 1-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl,1,2-dihydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, 3-hydroxypropyl,2,3-dihydroxypropyl, 3-hydroxybutyl, 4-hydroxybutyl,2-hydroxy-1-methylpropyl, and 1,3-dihydroxyprop-2-yl).

Useful alkoxy groups include oxygen substituted by one of the C₁₋₁₀alkyl groups mentioned above (e.g., methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy,iso-propoxy, butoxy, tert-butoxy, iso-butoxy, sec-butoxy, pentyloxy,hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy and decyloxy).

Useful alkoxyalkyl groups include any of the above-mentioned C₁₋₁₀ alkylgroups substituted with any of the above-mentioned alkoxy groups (e.g.,methoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, methoxypropyl, methoxybutyl, ethoxymethyl,2-ethoxyethyl, 3-ethoxypropyl, 4-ethoxybutyl, propoxymethyl,iso-propoxymethyl, 2-propoxyethyl, 3-propoxypropyl, butoxymethyl,tert-butoxymethyl, isobutoxymethyl, sec-butoxymethyl, andpentyloxymethyl).

Useful haloalkoxy groups include oxygen substituted by one of the C₁₋₁₀haloalkyl groups mentioned above (e.g., fluoromethoxy, difluoromethoxy,trifluoromethoxy, and 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy).

Useful (cycloalkyl)alkyl groups include any of the above-mentioned C₁₋₁₀alkyl groups substituted with any of the above-mentioned cycloalkylgroups (e.g., (cyclopropyl)methyl, 2-(cyclopropyl)ethyl,(cyclopropyl)propyl, (cyclobutyl)methyl, (cyclopentyl)methyl,(cyclohexyl)methyl, and the like).

Useful (cycloalkyl)alkenyl groups include any of the above-mentionedC₂₋₆ alkenyl groups substituted with any of the above-mentionedcycloalkyl groups.

Useful (cycloalkenyl)alkyl groups include any of the above-mentionedC₁₋₁₀ alkyl groups substituted with any of the above-mentionedcycloalkenyl groups (e.g., (cyclobutenyl)methyl, 2-(cyclobutenyl)ethyl,(cyclobutenyl)propyl, (cyclopentenyl)methyl, (cyclohexenyl)methyl,(cyclopentadienyl)methyl, and the like).

Useful (cycloalkenyl)alkenyl groups include any of the above-mentionedC₂₋₆ alkenyl groups substituted with any of the above-mentionedcycloalkenyl groups.

Useful aryl groups are C₆₋₁₄ aryl, preferably C₆₋₁₂ aryl, and especiallyC₆₋₁₀ aryl. Typical C₆₋₁₄ aryl groups include phenyl, naphthyl,phenanthryl, anthracyl, indenyl, azulenyl, biphenyl, biphenylenyl, andfluorenyl groups, more preferably phenyl, naphthyl, and biphenyl groups.

Useful aryloxy groups include oxygen substituted by one of the arylgroups mentioned above (e.g., phenoxy).

Useful arylalkyl groups include any of the above-mentioned C₁₋₁₀ alkylgroups substituted by any of the above-mentioned aryl groups (e.g.,benzyl, phenethyl, and the like).

Useful (arylalkyl)carbonyl groups include a carbonyl group substitutedby any of the above-mentioned arylalkyl groups.

Useful aralkyloxy or arylalkoxy groups include oxygen substituted by oneof the above-mentioned arylalkyl groups (e.g., benzyloxy).

Useful (arylalkoxy)carbonyl groups include a carbonyl group substitutedby any of the above-mentioned arylalkoxy groups (e.g.,(benzyloxy)carbonyl).

The term “heteroaryl” or “heteroaromatic” as employed herein refers togroups having 5 to 14 ring atoms, with 6, 10 or 14 π electrons shared ina cyclic array, and containing carbon atoms and 1, 2, or 3 oxygen,nitrogen or sulfur heteroatoms, or 4 nitrogen atoms. Examples ofheteroaryl groups include thienyl, benzo[b]thienyl,naphtho[2,3-b]thienyl, thianthrenyl, furyl, benzofuryl, pyranyl,isobenzofuranyl, benzooxazonyl, chromenyl, xanthenyl, 2H-pyrrolyl,pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl,pyridazinyl, isoindolyl, 3H-indolyl, indolyl, indazolyl, purinyl,isoquinolyl, quinolyl, phthalazinyl, naphthyridinyl, cinnolinyl,quinazolinyl, pteridinyl, 4aH-carbazolyl, carbazolyl, β-carbolinyl,phenanthridinyl, acridinyl, pyrimidinyl, phenanthrolinyl, phenazinyl,thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, phenothiazolyl, isoxazolyl, furazanyl, andphenoxazinyl. Typical heteroaryl groups include thienyl (e.g.,thien-2-yl and thien-3-yl), furyl (e.g., 2-furyl and 3-furyl), pyrrolyl(e.g., pyrrol-1-yl, 1H-pyrrol-2-yl and 1H-pyrrol-3-yl), imidazolyl(e.g., imidazol-1-yl, 1H-imidazol-2-yl and 1H-imidazol-4-yl), tetrazolyl(e.g., tetrazol-1-yl and tetrazol-5-yl), pyrazolyl (e.g.,1H-pyrazol-3-yl, 1H-pyrazol-4-yl, and 1H-pyrazol-5-yl), pyridyl (e.g.,pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl, and pyridin-4-yl), pyrimidinyl (e.g.,pyrimidin-2-yl, pyrimidin-4-yl, pyrimidin-5-yl, and pyrimidin-5-yl),thiazolyl (e.g., thiazol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, and thiazol-5-yl),isothiazolyl (e.g., isothiazol-3-yl, isothiazol-4-yl, andisothiazol-5-yl), oxazolyl (e.g., oxazol-2-yl, oxazol-4-yl, andoxazol-5-yl) and isoxazolyl (e.g., isoxazol-3-yl, isoxazol-4-yl, andisoxazol-5-yl).

Useful heteroarylalkyl groups include any of the above-mentioned C₁₋₁₀alkyl groups substituted by any of the above-mentioned heteroaryl groups(e.g., (thien-2-yl)methyl, 2-furylmethyl, (pyrrol-1-yl)methyl,2-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)ethyl and the like).

Useful heteroarylalkenyl groups include any of the above-mentioned C₂₋₆alkenyl groups substituted by any of the above-mentioned heteroarylgroups.

Useful heteroarylalkoxy groups include oxygen substituted by one of theabove-mentioned heteroaryl groups.

Useful (heteroarylalkoxy)carbonyl groups include a carbonyl groupsubstituted by any of the above-mentioned heteroarylalkoxy groups.

The terms “heterocyclic” and “heterocyclo” are used herein to meansaturated or partially unsaturated 3-7 membered monocyclic, or 7-10membered bicyclic ring system, which consist of carbon atoms and fromone to four heteroatoms independently selected from the group consistingof O, N, and S, wherein the nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms can beoptionally oxidized, the nitrogen can be optionally quaternized, andincluding any bicyclic group in which any of the above-definedheterocyclic rings is fused to a benzene ring, and wherein theheterocyclic ring can be substituted on a carbon atom or on a nitrogenatom if the resulting compound is stable. In one embodiment, the 3- to7-membered monocyclic heterocyclic ring is either a saturated, orunsaturated non-aromatic ring. A 3-membered heterocyclo can contain upto 1 heteroatom, a 4-membered heterocyclo can contain up to 2heteroatoms, a 5-membered heterocyclo can contain up to 4 heteroatoms, a6-membered heterocyclo can contain up to 4 heteroatoms, and a 7-memberedheterocyclo can contain up to 5 heteroatoms. Each heteroatom isindependently selected from nitrogen, which can be quaternized; oxygen;and sulfur, including sulfoxide and sulfone. The 3- to 7-memberedheterocyclo can be attached via a nitrogen or carbon atom. A 7- to10-membered bicyclic heterocyclo contains from 1 to 4 heteroatomsindependently selected from nitrogen, which can be quaternized; oxygen;and sulfur, including sulfoxide and sulfone. The 7- to 10-memberedbicyclic heterocyclo can be attached via a nitrogen or carbon atom.Examples of the heterocyclic rings include, but are not limited to,pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, imidazolinyl,pyrazolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, oxazolidinyl, 2-oxooxazolidinyl,tetrahydrothienyl, imidazolidinyl, hexahydropyrimidinyl,benzodiazepines, and the like.

Useful (heterocyclo)alkyl groups include any of the above-mentionedC₁₋₁₀ alkyl groups substituted by any of the above-mentionedheterocyclic groups (e.g., (pyrrolidin-2-yl)methyl,(pyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl, (piperidin-1-yl)methyl, (morpholin-1-yl)methyl,(2-oxooxazolidin-4-yl)methyl, 2-(2-oxooxazolidin-4-yl)ethyl,(2-oxo-imidazolidin-1-yl)methyl, (2-oxo-imidazolidin-1-yl)ethyl,(2-oxo-imidazolidin-1-yl)propyl, and the like).

Useful (heterocyclo)alkenyl groups include any of the above-mentionedC₂₋₆ alkenyl groups substituted by any of the above-mentionedheterocyclic groups.

As used herein, the term “aminocarbonyl” refers to —C(═O)NH₂.

Useful alkylcarbonyl groups include a carbonyl group, i.e., —C(═O)—,substituted by any of the above-mentioned C₁₋₁₀ alkyl groups.

Useful alkoxycarbonyl groups include a carbonyl group substituted by anyof the above-mentioned alkoxy groups (i.e., —C(═O)O-alkyl) (e.g.,methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, propoxycarbonyl, iso-propoxycarbonyl,butoxycarbonyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl, iso-butoxycarbonyl,sec-butoxycarbonyl, and pentyloxycarbonyl).

Useful arylcarbonyl groups include a carbonyl group substituted by anyof the above-mentioned aryl groups (e.g., benzoyl).

Useful alkylcarbonyloxy or acyloxy groups include oxygen substituted byone of the above-mentioned alkylcarbonyl groups.

Useful alkylcarbonylamino or acylamino groups include any of theabove-mentioned alkylcarbonyl groups attached to an amino nitrogen, suchas methylcarbonylamino.

As used herein, the term “carboxamido” refers to a radical of formula—C(═O)NR¹¹R¹², wherein R¹¹ and R¹² are each independently hydrogen,optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, or optionally substituted aryl.Exemplary carboxamido groups include —CONH₂, —CON(H)CH₃, —CON(CH₃)₂, and—CON(H)Ph and the like

Useful alkylaminocarbonyl and dialkylaminocarbonyl groups are any of theabove-mentioned carboxamido groups, where R¹¹ is H and R¹² is C₁₋₁₀alkyl or where R¹³ and R¹⁴ are each independently selected from a C₁₋₁₀alkyl group, respectively.

As used herein, the term “sulfonamido” refers to a radical of formula—SO₂NR¹¹R¹², wherein R¹¹ and R¹² are each independently hydrogen,optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, or optionally substituted aryl.Exemplary sulfonamido groups include —SO₂NH₂, —SO₂N(H)CH₃, —SO₂N(H)Phand the like.

Useful mercaptoalkyl groups include any of the above-mentioned C₁₋₁₀alkyl groups substituted by a —SH group.

As used herein, the term “carboxy” refers to —COOH.

Useful carboxyalkyl groups include any of the above-mentioned C₁₋₁₀alkyl groups substituted by —COOH.

As used herein, the terms “hydroxyl” or “hydroxy” refer to —OH.

As used herein, the term “cyano” refers to —CN.

As used herein, the term “formyl” refers to —C(═O)H.

As used herein, the term “ureido” refers to —NH—C(═O)—NH₂.

As used herein, the term “azido” refers to —N₃.

The term “mother liquor” as used herein means the part of a solutionthat is left over after crystallization.

The term “ambient temperature” as used herein means the temperature ofthe surroundings. The ambient temperature indoors is the same as roomtemperature, which is from about 20° C. to about 25° C.

The term “about,” as used herein in connection with a measured quantity,refers to the normal variations in that measured quantity, as expectedby the skilled artisan making the measurement and exercising a level ofcare commensurate with the objective of measurement and the precision ofthe measuring equipment.

As used herein, the term “optionally substituted” refers to a group thatmay be unsubstituted or substituted.

Optional substituents on optionally substituted groups, when nototherwise indicated, include one or more groups, typically 1, 2, or 3groups, independently selected from the group consisting of halo,halo(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl, heterocycle, cycloalkyl, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₂₋₆alkenyl, C₂₋₆ alkynyl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl,aryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl, cycloalkyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, heterocyclo(C₁₋₆)alkyl,hydroxy(C₁₋₆)alkyl, carboxy(C₁₋₆)alkyl, alkoxy(C₁₋₆)alkyl, nitro,ureido, cyano, alkylcarbonylamino, hydroxy, thiol, alkylcarbonyloxy,aryloxy, ar(C₁₋₆)alkyloxy, carboxamido, sulfonamido, azido, C₁₋₆ alkoxy,halo(C₁₋₆)alkoxy, carboxy, aminocarbonyl, (═O), and mercapto(C₁₋₆)alkylgroups mentioned above. Preferred optional substituents include halo,halo(C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, nitro, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, and halo(C₁₋₆)alkoxy.

Some of the compounds disclosed herein may contain one or moreasymmetric centers and may thus give rise to enantiomers, diastereomers,and other stereoisomeric forms, such as epimers. The present inventionis meant to encompass the uses of all such possible forms, as well astheir racemic and resolved forms and mixtures thereof. The individualenantiomers may be separated according to methods known to those ofordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure. When thecompounds described herein contain olefinic double bonds or othercenters of geometric asymmetry, and unless specified otherwise, it isintended that they include both E and Z geometric isomers. All tautomersare intended to be encompassed by the present invention as well.

As used herein, the term “under conditions conducive to precipitation”refers to conditions which are suitable to induce or facilitateprecipitation of the desired compound.

As used herein, the term “stereoisomers” is a general term for allisomers of individual molecules that differ only in the orientation oftheir atoms in space. It includes enantiomers and isomers of compoundswith more than one chiral center that are not mirror images of oneanother (diastereomers).

The term “chiral center” or “chiral” refers to a carbon atom to whichfour different groups are attached.

The term “chiral” in the context of the present invention also refers toa compound of group, exhibiting a “chiral center”, such as a chiralacid. Exemplary chiral acids are lactic acid, tartric acid, and thelike.

The term “achiral” in the context of the present invention refers to acompound of group, wherein no “chiral center” is present. An example forachiral compounds are achiral acids, such as acetic acid,trifluoroacetic acid, tribromoacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, fumaricacid, maleic acid, and the like.

The term “epimer” refers to diastereomers that have oppositeconfiguration at only one of two or more tetrahedral sterogenic centrespresent in the respective molecular entities.

The term “stereogenic center” is an atom, bearing groups such that aninterchanging of any two groups leads to a stereoisomer.

The terms “enantiomer” and “enantiomeric” refer to a molecule thatcannot be superimposed on its mirror image and hence is optically activewherein the enantiomer rotates the plane of polarized light in onedirection and its mirror image compound rotates the plane of polarizedlight in the opposite direction.

The term “racemic” refers to a mixture of equal parts of enantiomers andwhich mixture is optically inactive.

The term “resolution” refers to the separation or concentration ordepletion of one of the two enantiomeric forms of a molecule.

The terms “a” and “an” refer to one or more.

Open terms such as “include,” “including,” “contain,” “containing” andthe like mean “comprising.”

Synthesis of Compounds

Compounds of Formula I can be prepared as shown in the schemes below.The synthesis of the compounds usually starts with a Diels-Alderreaction of thebaine or oripavine with dienophile, for example, a vinylketone under formation of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture A-2 (7α-epimerA^(a)-2 and 7β-epimer A^(b)-2) (Scheme 2).

In Scheme 2, G is R¹ or a hydroxyl protecting group as defined above forFormula I and R is alkyl, optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3,substituents each independently selected from the group consisting ofhydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, andalkoxycarbonyl, respectively, or a functional group that can beconverted to these groups.

The 7α/7β-epimer mixture of compounds of Formula I, i.e., the mixture ofepimers A^(a)-2 and A^(b)-2, can be synthesized by methods described inthe art, for example, in Marton J., et al., Synthetic Communications25(6):829-848 (1995) and Bentley, K. W., Journal of American ChemicalSociety 89(13):3267-3273 (1967). Usually, the alpha (a) epimer A^(a)-2is formed as the major component. The 7α/7β-epimer mixture of the ketoneA-2 can then be converted further through a series of transformations,which may include hydrogenation, N- and/or O-demethylation, Grignard orlithium alkyl addition as shown in Scheme 3 below as described, forexample, in Bentley, K. W., et al., Journal of American Chemical Society89(13):3273-3280 (1967); Bentley, K. W., and Hardy, D. G., Journal ofAmerican Chemical Society 89(13):3281-3292 (1967); Marton, J., et al.,Monatshefte für Chemie 125:1229-1239 (1994).

In Scheme 3, G is R¹ or a hydroxyl protecting group PG as defined abovefor Formula I, R and R′ are each independently alkyl, optionallysubstituted with 1, 2, or 3, substituents each independently selectedfrom the group consisting of hydroxy, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy,alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl, respectively, or are functionalgroups that can be converted to these groups. R″ is as defined above forR² or a group that can be converted to R². X is halogen or tosylate.

The following examples are illustrative, but not limiting, of thecompounds, compositions and methods of the present invention. Suitablemodifications and adaptations of the variety of conditions andparameters normally encountered in clinical therapy and which areobvious to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure arewithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES

The following HPLC methods 1 and 2 were used:

HPLC Method 1 Column: Phenomenex Synergy Polar-RP, 50×3.0 mm, 2.5Detection: UV 240 nm Injection Volume: 2.0 μL

Flow Rate: 0.8 mL/min

Column Temperature: Ambient Run Time: 15 min

Mobile Phase A: 0.025% TFA in waterMobile Phase B: 0.025% TFA in acetonitrile

Gradient Profile:

Time Flow % A % B 1 0.00 0.8 90 10 2 5.00 0.8 89 11 3 12.00 0.8 45 55 412.01 0.8 90 10 5 15.00 0.8 90 10

HPLC Method 2 Column: Phenomenex Synergy Polar-RP, 50×3.0 mm, 2.5 μmDetection: UV 240 nm Injection Volume: 5.0 μL

Flow Rate: 1.5 mL/min

Column Temperature: Ambient Run Time: 25 min

Mobile Phase A: 0.025% TFA in waterMobile Phase B: 0.025% TFA in acetonitrile

Gradient Profile:

Time Flow % A % B % C % D Curve 1 0.00 1.50 95.0 5.0 0.0 0.0 6 2 20 1.5035.0 65.0 0.0 0.0 6 3 21 1.50 95.0 5.0 0.0 0.0 6 4 25 1.50 95.0 5.0 0.00.0 6

Example 1 Separation of a mixture containing1-[(5α,7α)-4,5-epoxy-3-hydroxy-6-methoxy-17-methyl-6,14-ethenomorphinan-7-yl]ethanone(1) and1-[(5α,7β)-4,5-epoxy-3-hydroxy-6-methoxy-17-methyl-6,14-ethenomorphinan-7-yl]ethanone(2)

General Procedure:

Compounds 1 and 2 were mixed in the corresponding solvent in a 1:1 ratioand 0.6 or 1.2 equivalents (based on total 6α,14α-ethenomorphinancontent) of the corresponding acid was added. In case of aprecipitation, the precipitate was isolated and analyzed by HPLCanalysis (HPLC method 1). From the HPLC analysis of the precipitate andthe mother liquor, the amount of compound 1 and compound 2 in eachfraction was calculated and the recovery of compound 2 in the isolatedprecipitate was determined.

To a vial was added compound 1 (0.1 g), compound 2 (0.1 g), and solvent(6 mL). The mixture was heated at 60° C. until most or all soliddissolved. To the vial was added 1.1 or 0.6 equivalents (based on thetotal amine content) of the acid. The mixture was allowed to cool toambient temperature and was stirred overnight. The precipitated productwas filtered, and both the solid as well as the mother liquor wereanalyzed by HPLC, and the yield and recovery were calculated. Tables 1and 2 show the results of the tested solvent and acid combinations inthe presence of 0.6 eq. acid and 1.1 eq. acid, respectively.

TABLE 1 Purity and recovery of isolated salts of compound 2 with 0.6 eq.acid Precipitate Mother liquor Ratio¹ α:β Yield² Recovery² Purify Ratio¹α:β Yield² Solvent Acid (%) (mg) (%) (%) (%) (mg) 1 MeOH AcOH  1.7:98.357 56.3 98.3 69.2:30.6 143 2 EtOH TFA 24.4:75.6 118 89.2 75.6 86.5:13.282 3 n-PrOH TFA 29.8:70.2 135 95.2 70.2 92.0:7.4  65 4 IPA TFA 34.1:65.8147 97.3 65.8 94.3:5.1  53 5 EtOH Maleic 25.6:74.4 118 87.6 74.485.0:15.0 82 6 n-PrOH Maleic 33.0:67.0 142 95.2 67.0 90.7:8.2  58 7toluene Maleic 35.2:64.8 148 95.7 64.8 91.2:8.2  52 8 EtOH Fumaric Noprecip. NA NA NA 50:50 NA 9 n-PrOH Fumaric No precip. NA NA NA 50:50 NA10 toluene Fumaric  8.0:92.0 35 32.4 91.9 57.9:41  165 ¹by HPLC analysis(HPLC method 1); ²based on free base; calculated from the epimer ratiosin the precipitate and the mother liquor

TABLE 2 Purity and recovery of isolated salts of compound 2 with 1.1 eq.acid Precipitate Mother liquor Ratio¹ α:β Yield² Recovery² Purify Ratio¹α:β Yield² Solvent Acid (%) (mg) (%) (%) (%) (mg) 1 MeOH AcOH 1.3:98.745 44.4 98.7 64.3:35.7 155 2 EtOH TFA 46.2:53.8  177 95.2 53.8 78.7:21.223 3 n-PrOH TFA 4.1:96.9 97 94.0 96.9 94.6:5.4  103 4 IPA TFA 4.8:95.2100 95.2 95.2 96.0:4.0  100 5 EtOH Maleic 4.3:95.7 93 89.0 95.789.7:10.3 107 6 n-PrOH Maleic 8.7:91.3 100 91.3 91.3 91.3:8.7  100 7toluene Maleic None NA NA 8 n-PrOH Fumaric 49.8:50.2  187 93.9 50.252.9:47.1 13 9 toluene Fumaric 49.5:50.5  186 93.9 50.5 55.3:43.3 14 10CPME Fumaric 49.5:50.5  197 99.5 50.5 83.0:16.5 3 ¹by HPLC analysis(HPLC method 1); ²based on free base; calculated from epimer ratios inthe precipitate and the mother liquor

The results of Table 2 show that when 1.1 equivalents of acid(especially trifluoro acetic acid (TFA) or maleic acid) is used inn-propanol, isopropanol (IPA), or ethanol, high recovery and high purityof the 7β-epimer are achieved. A moderate recovery, but high purity, isachieved in the mixture of methanol and 1.1 equivalents of acetic acid.

The results of Table 1 show that 0.6 equivalents of TFA or maleic acidin alcohol provides similar recoveries than those in Table 2, but asomewhat lower purity of the 7β-epimer. Using 0.6 equivalents of acid, amoderate recovery, but high purity, was achieved in methanol and aceticacid as well as toluene and fumaric acid.

Example 2 Separation of a mixture containing1-[(5α,7α)-3-benzyloxy-4,5-epoxy-6-methoxy-17-methyl-6,14-ethenomorphinan-7-yl]ethanone(3) and1-[(5α,7β)-3-benzyloxy-4,5-epoxy-6-methoxy-17-methyl-6,14-ethenomorphinan-7-yl]ethanone(4)

The separation of compounds 3 and 4 was conducted using the procedure asdescribed in Example 1. The results are described in Table 3 (0.6 eqacid) and Table 4 (1.1 eq. acid).

TABLE 3 Purity and recovery of isolated salts of compound 4 with 0.6 eq.acid Precipitate Mother liquor Ratio¹ α:β Yield² Recovery² Purify Ratio¹α:β Yield³ Solvent Acid (%) (mg) (%) (%) (%) (mg) 1 MeOH AcOH 0.7:99.356 55.6 99.3 68.3:30.7 144 2 EtOH AcOH 1.4:98.6 77 75.9 98.6 79.8:19.2123 3 n-PrOH AcOH 1.4:98.6 72 70.1 98.6 76.4:22.6 128 4 IPA AcOH3.4:96.6 87 84.4 96.6 85.5:14.5 113 5 Toluene Maleic No precip. NA NA NA50:50 NA 6 CPME Maleic No precip. NA NA NA 50:50 NA 7 EtOH Fumaric1.6:98.4 36 35.4 98.4 59.9:39.1 164 8 n-PrOH Fumaric 1.3:98.7 28 27.698.7 57.6:42.4 172 9 IPA Fumaric 5.3:94.7 74 70.1 94.7 75.56:24.4  126¹by HPLC analysis (HPLC method 1); ²based on free base; calculated fromepimer ratios in precipitate and mother liquor

TABLE 4 Purity and recovery of isolated salts of compound 4 with 1.1 eq.acid Precipitate Mother liquor Ratio¹ α:β Yield² Recovery² Purify Ratio¹α:β Yield³ Solvent Acid (%) (mg) (%) (%) (%) (mg) 1 MeOH AcOH 1.4:98.645 44.4 98.6 63.5:36.5 155 2 EtOH AcOH 0.4:99.6 67 66.7 99.6 74.3:24.7133 3 n-PrOH AcOH 0.6:99.4 63 62.6 99.4 71.7:27.3 137 4 IPA AcOH1.7:98.3 83 81.4 98.1 83.5:15.5 117 5 Toluene Maleic No precip. NA NA NA50:50 NA 6 CPME Maleic No precip. NA NA NA 50:50 NA 7 EtOH Fumaric Noprecip. NA NA NA 50:50 NA 8 n-PrOH Fumaric No precip. NA NA NA 50:50 NA9 IPA Fumaric 15.2:84.8  85 72.0 84.8 74.6:24.4 115 ¹by HPLC analysis(HPLC method 1); ²based on free base; calculated from epimer ratios inthe precipitate and the mother liquor;

Tables 3 and 4 show that high recovery and high purity of the 7β-epimerwas achieved with 0.6 and 1.1 equivalents of acetic acid in alcohols.Recovery seemed to increase with decreasing polarity. High purity and asomewhat lower recovery of the 7β-epimer was achieved with 0.6equivalents of fumaric acid. Fumaric acid and IPA afforded a somewhatlower purity in 1.1 eq. of acid.

Example 3 Separation of a mixture containing(5α,7α)-4,5-epoxy-3-hydroxy-6-methoxy-17-methyl-6,14-ethenomorphinan-7-carbonitrile(5) and(5α,7β)-4,5-epoxy-3-hydroxy-6-methoxy-17-methyl-6,14-ethenomorphinan-7-carbonitrile(6)

The separation of compounds 5 and 6 was conducted as described inExample 1 using HPLC method 2 instead of HPLC method 1. The results aredescribed in Table 5 (0.6 eq acid) and Table 6 (1.1 eq. acid) below.

TABLE 5 Purity and recovery of isolated salts of compounds 5 and 6 with0.6 eq. acid Precipitate Mother liquor Ratio¹ α:β Yield² Recovery²Purify Ratio¹ α:β Yield³ Solvent Acid (%) (mg) (%) (%) (%) (mg) 1 EtOHAcOH No precip. NA 0 NA 50:50 2 n-PrOH AcOH  3.9:96.1 59 56.7 96.169.2:30.8 141 3 IPA AcOH  4.9:95.1 61 58.0 95.1 69.3:30.4 139 4 EtOHMaleic 93.8:6.2³  103 96.6 93.8  3.7:96.3 97 5 MeOH Fumaric 51.4:48.6136 69.9 51.4 47.0:53.0 63 6 EtOH Fumaric 51.4:48.6 139 71.4 51.446.8:53.2 61 7 n-PrOH Fumaric 51.7:48.3 74 38.2 51.7 49.0:51.0 126 ¹byHPLC analysis (HPLC method 2); ²based on free base; calculated fromepimer ratios in precipitate and mother liquor; ³7α-epimer is isolated

TABLE 6 Purity and recovery of isolated salts of compound 6 with 1.1 eq.acid Precipitate Mother liquor Ratio¹ α:β Yield² Recovery² Purify Ratio¹α:β Yield³ Solvent Acid (%) (mg) (%) (%) (%) (mg) 1 EtOH AcOH No precip.0 0 NA 50:50 200 2 n-PrOH AcOH   3.8:96.2³ 63 60 96.2 71.2:28.8 137 3IPA AcOH   4.5:95.5³ 55 53 95.5 67.4:32.6 145 4 EtOH Maleic 54.4:45.6170 92 54.4 24.8:75.2 30 5 MeOH Fumaric 52.5:47.5 91 48 52.5 47.9:52.1109 6 EtOH Fumaric 52.3:47.7 179 93 52.3 50.3:49.7 21 7 n-PrOH Fumaric53.1:46.9 29 15 53.1  46.7: 53.3 171 ¹by HPLC analysis (HPLC method 2);²based on free base; calculated from epimer ratios in precipitate andmother liquor; ³7β-epimer is isolated

High recovery and high purity of the 7α-epimer was achieved with 0.6 eq.of maleic acid in ethanol, and the proportion of the 7β-increased in themother liquor. n-PrOH and IPA with acetic acid gave high purity andmoderate recovery of the 7β-epimer. No significant difference between0.6 and 1.1 eq of acid was detected.

Example 4 Isolation of Compound 2 from a Mixture of Compound 2/Compound1 in a 26:74 Ratio

21 g of a mixture containing compound 2 and compound 1 in a 26:74 ratiowas suspended in IPA (350 mL) and heated to 70° C. After all solids weredissolved, the mixture was cooled to room temperature andtrifluoroacetic acid (TFA) (1.7 g, 1.0 eq based on compound 2) was addeddropwise. The mixture was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. Theprecipitate was filtered, washed with IPA (3×10 mL) and dried to give anoff-white solid containing compound 2 and compound 1 in a 96.3:3.7ratio. The crude product was suspended in IPA (10 mL) and heated at 80°C. and stirred for 1 h. After cooling to room temperature, the productwas filtered and dried to give 3.5 g (49% recovery, 97.6% purity) ofcompound 7:

Compound 7 can be converted to its free base, compound 2, following theprocedure described in Example 8 below.

Example 5 Isolation of Compound 2 from a Mixture of Compound 2/Compound1 in a 45:55 Ratio

70 g of a mixture containing compound 2 and compound 1 in a 45:55 ratiowas dissolved in hot IPA (1.2 L). After the solution was cooled to roomtemperature, TFA (6.4 mL, 1.0 eq. based on compound 2) was addeddropwise. The mixture was kept at room temperature overnight and theprecipitate was filtered and dried to afford 38.0 g of compound 2TFA-salt with 88% purity. The crude product was then suspended in IPA(300 mL) and heated to reflux and stirred for 1 h. After cooling to roomtemperature, the product was filtered and dried to give 32.0 g (77%recovery, 97.8% purity) of compound 7.

Example 6 Isolation of Compound 2 from a Mixture of Compound 2/Compound1 in a 46:54 Ratio

14.2 g of a mixture containing compound 2 and compound 1 in a 46:54ratio was dissolved in hot IPA (140 mL). To the hot solution, TFA (1.3mL, 1.0 eq. based on compound 2) was added dropwise. The mixture wascooled to room temperature and stirred overnight. The precipitate wasfiltered. The filter cake was washed with cold IPA (2×10 mL) and theproduct was dried to afford 8.0 g (93% recovery, 93.6% purity) ofcompound 7, which can be converted to compound 2 as described in Example8.

Example 7 Isolation of Compound 2 from a Mixture of Compound 2/Compound1 in a 60:40 Ratio

95 g of a mother liquor obtained after Diels-Alder reaction of oripavineand methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), containing in a 92% purity a mixture ofcompound 2 and compound 1 in a 60:40 ratio, was heated under reflux inIPA (500 mL). The mixture was cooled to ambient temperature and allowedto stir overnight. After filtering off an additional 6 g of compound 1,TFA (9.9 mL, 0.9 eq. based on compound 2) was added dropwise. Themixture was kept at room temperature overnight and the precipitate wasfiltered off. The crude product was then suspended in IPA (800 mL) andheated to 75° C. and stirred for 2 h. After cooling to room temperature,the product was filtered and dried to give 52.0 g (77% recovery, 97.3%purity) of compound 7, which can be converted to compound 2 as describedin Example 8.

Example 8 Conversion of Compound 7 (TFA-Salt of Compound 2) to Compound2

Method A:

To a mixture of 52 g of compound 7, in ethyl acetate (1000 mL) and water(300 mL) was added 28% NH₄OH and the pH of the mixture was adjusted topH 9. The layers were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted withethyl acetate (100 mL). The combined organic layers were washed withbrine, dried over Na₂SO₄, and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated todryness. The crude product was triturated in methanol (MeOH) (400 mL)and stirred for 30 minutes under reflux. After cooling to ambienttemperature, the product was filtered off and dried to afford 38.6 g(97% recovery, 100% purity) of compound 2:

¹H NMR δ (400 MHz, CDCl₃): 6.59 (d, J=8 Hz, 1H), 6.47 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H),6.02 (dd, J=8.8 Hz, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 4.88 (d, J=10 Hz, 1H), 5.02 (d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 3.59 (s, 3H), 3.22 (d, J=18 Hz, 1H), 3.16 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 1H),3.02 (dd, J=11.2 Hz, 4.8 Hz, 1H), 2.88 (dd, J=12.8 Hz, 4.4 Hz, 1H), 2.76(dt, J=12.8 Hz, 5.6 Hz, 1H), 2.55 (dd, J=11.6 Hz, 5.2 Hz, 1H), 2.44-2.38(m, 2H), 2.36 (s, 3H), 2.30 (s, 3H), 1.66-1.61 (m, 1H), 1.42 (dd, J=12.8Hz, 11.2 Hz, 1H). LC/MS (ESI): m/z=368.1 [M+H]⁺ (Calc: 367.4).

Alternative Method B:

Compound 7 (17.0 g) was suspended in H₂O (350 mL) and the pH of themixture was adjusted to 9 by dropwise addition of NH₄OH. The mixture wasthen stirred at room temperature for 1 h. The solids were filtered offand the filter cake was washed with H₂O (2×100 mL) and then dried toafford 12.5 g (96.3%) of compound 2 was obtained as an off-white solid.

Example 9 Isolation of Compound 2 from a Mixture of Compound 2/Compound1 in a 68:32 Ratio and Salt Breaking

119 g of a mother liquor obtained after Diels-Alder reaction oforipavine and MVK, containing in a 97% purity a mixture of compound 2and compound 1 in a 68:32 ratio, was heated under reflux in IPA (600mL). Once a solution was formed, TFA (15.5 g, 1.0 eq. based on compound2) was added dropwise. The mixture was cooled to room temperature andcompound 7 was filtered off. The crude compound 7 (103 g) was added to amixture of EtOAc (1.5 L) and water (400 mL). Ammonium hydroxide wasadded (˜15 mL) and the pH was adjusted tp pH 9. The layers wereseparated and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (200mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried overNa₂SO₄, and filtered. The crude product was triturated in MeOH (400 mL)and stirred for 30 minutes under reflux. After cooling to ambienttemperature, the product was filtered off and dried to afford 44.6 g(60% recovery, 99% purity) of compound 2 as an off-white crystallinesolid.

Example 10 Isolation of Compound 6 from a Mixture of Compound 5/Compound6 in a 50:50 Ratio

A mixture of compound 5 (5.0 g) and compound 6 (5.0 g) in IPA (300 mL)was heated to 60° C. After a clear solution was formed acetic acid (1.03g, 0.6 equiv to total base) was added. The mixture was cooled to ambienttemperature and stirred overnight. The product was filtered off and thecake was washed with IPA (50 mL). After drying, 1.8 g (88% recovery,98.1% purity) of compound 6 (the 7β-epimer) acetate salt (compound 8)was obtained:

Example 11 Isolation of Compound 5 from a Mixture of Compound 5/Compound6 in a 50:50 Ratio

A mixture of compound 5 (5.0 g) and compound 6 (5.0 g) in ethanol (EtOH)(300 mL) was heated to 60° C. After a clear solution was formed maleicacid (1.99 g, 0.6 equiv to total base) was added. The mixture was cooledto 20° C. and stirred overnight. The product was filtered off and thecake was washed with ethanol (1000 mL). After drying, 5.9 g (31%recovery, 91.2% purity) of compound 5 (the 7α-epimer) maleate salt wasobtained, while compound 6 maleate salt remained in the mother liquor(compound 9):

Example 12 Preparation of Compound 2

(a) A mixture of 1300 g of oripavine and methyl vinyl ketone (1.5 equiv)in isopropanol (3.25 L) was heated under reflux for 2 days. The mixturewas cooled to 0° C. and then filtered. The filter cake was washed twicewith iso-propanol (2×1 L) and then dried to afford 1444 g (89%yield, >99% purity) of compound 1:

¹H NMR δ (400 MHz, CDCl₃): 6.60 (d, J=8 Hz, 1H), 5.03 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H).6.49 (dd, J=8.4 Hz, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 5.56 (d, J=9.2 Hz, 1H). 4.70 (bs, 1H),4.59 (d, J=1.2 Hz, 1H), 3.57 (s, 3H), 3.22-3.19 (m, 2H), 2.96-2.90 (m,2H), 2.53-2.50 (m, 1H), 2.44-2.37 (m, 2H), 2.36 (s, 3H), 2.13 (s, 3H),2.01-1.95 (m, 1H), 1.87-1.83 (m, 1H), 1.38-1.32 (m, 1H).

LC/MS (ESI): m/z 368.1=[M+H]⁺ (Calc: 367.4).

(b) The mother liquor from step (a), containing about 119.5 g ofcompound 1 and compound 2 in a 71:29 ratio was concentrated to about 3L. The mixture was then heated to about 60° C. and TFA (1.1 equiv basedon compound 2) was added. The mixture was seeded with compound 7 andcooled to 25° C. and stirred for 3 days. The mixture was filtered andthe filter cake was washed with isopropanol (1 L) then dried to afford28.8 g (64% yield) of compound 7, which can be converted to compound 2as described in Example 8.

Example 13 Epimerization of Compound 1 with K₂CO₃

A mixture of compound 1 (32.5 g), K₂CO₃ (24.4, 2 equiv) in cyclopentylmethyl ether (CPME) (155 mL) and water (˜3 mL) was heated to 75° C. for48 h at which point HPLC analysis indicated 23% epimerization. Themixture was cooled to ambient temperature. Dichloromethane and waterwere added and the pH was adjusted to 7-8. The layers were separated andthe organic layer was concentrated to dryness. The residue wastriturated with ethyl acetate to afford 17.4 g of compound 1. The motherliquor, containing compounds 1 and 2 in a ratio of about 1:1, wasconcentrated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in IPA and treatedwith TFA as described in the examples above to afford 5.6 g (17.5%) ofcompound 2 after salt breaking.

Example 14 Synthesis of Compound 3

Compound 1 (15 g) was benzylated in chloroform with benzyl bromide (1.2equiv) and potassium carbonate (1.2 eq). After heating the mixture underreflux for 6 hours, HPLC analysis indicated complete consumption ofcompound 1. The solids were filtered off and the filtrate wasconcentrated to afford a mixture of compound 2 and residual benzylbromide. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silicaeluting with dichloromethane to afford 20 g (100%) of compound 3 as alight yellow oil.

¹H NMR δ (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 7.41-7.26 (m, 5H), 6.65 (d, 1H), 6.48 (d,1H), 5.90 (d, 1H), 5.57 (d, 1H), 5.16-5.06 (m, 2H), 4.57 (d, 1H), 3.60(s, 3H), 3.22 (d, 1H), 3.18 (s, 1H), 2.95-2.86 (m, 2H), 2.57-2.47 (m,1H), 2.44-2.35 (m, 5H), 2.14 (s, 3H), 2.02-1.92 (m, 1H), 1.86-1.78 (m,1H), 1.41-1.33 (m, 1H).

LC/MS (ESI), m/z=458.3 [M+H]⁺ (Calc: 457.6)

Example 15 Synthesis of Compound 4 after Epimerization of Compound 3

Compound 3 (20 g) was treated with 1.1 molar equivalents of DBU incyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) (200 mL) at 100° C. The progress of thereaction was monitored by HPLC. After about 3 days, conversion fromcompound 3 to compound 4 was about 22% based on HPLC. After work-up andcolumn purification, 4.2 g of compound 4 (21% yield, 99.6A % pure) wasisolated.

¹H NMR δ (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 7.41-7.26 (m, 5H), 6.64 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H),6.45 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 6.03 (dd, J=9.3 Hz, 1.8 Hz, 1H), 5.47 (d, J=9.0Hz, 1H), 5.17-5.06 (m, 2H), 5.00 (d, J=1.8 Hz, 1H), 3.61 (s, 3H), 3.21(d, J=18.9 Hz, 1H), 3.15 (d, J=6.6 Hz, 1H), 2.99-2.79 (m, 3H), 2.62-2.52(m, 1H), 2.42-2.33 (m, 5H), 2.30 (s, 3H), 1.66-1.61 (m, 1H), 1.40 (dd,J=12.2 Hz, 11.1 Hz, 1H).

LC/MS (ESI), m/z=458.4 [M+H]⁺ (Calc: 457.6)

Example 16 Synthesis of Compound 4

Compound 4 can also be synthesized analogous to the procedure describedin Example 14 using compound 2 instead of Compound 1.

Example 17 Synthesis and Isolation of Compounds 5 and 6

A mixture of oripavine (100 g) and acrylonitrile (1.1 equiv) inisopropanol (260 mL) was heated under in a 2-L pressure bottle at 100°C. overnight. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to ambienttemperature and sampled. HPLC analysis indicated consumption oforipavine and formation of two new products formed in about 1:1 ratio.The mixture was concentrated to dryness. The residue was redissolved ina minimal amount of dichloromethane (˜400 mL) and purified by silica gelchromatography eluting with ethyl acetate/hexanes (1:1) to afford 16 g(14%) of compound 6 as the faster eluting epimer and 22 g (19%) ofcompound 5 as the slower eluting epimer. Both compounds were isolated asoff-white solids. Compound 5 can also be crystallized from methanol,while compound 6 is more soluble in this solvent. Trituration of thecrude ˜1:1 mixture in methanol provided clean compound 6 afterfiltration. The mother liquor from the trituration contained compound 6and compound 5 in about an 1:3 ratio

Compound 6: ¹H NMR δ (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 6.62 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 6.50 (d,J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 5.92 (dd, J=8.7 Hz, 1.8 Hz, 1H), 5.57 (d, J=9.6 Hz, 1H),5.01 (d, J=1.2 Hz, 1H), 3.59 (s, 3H), 3.26-3.17 (m, 2H), 3.11 (dd,J=12.9 Hz, 3.3 Hz, 1H), 2.87 (dd, J=11.7 Hz, 3.6 Hz, 1H), 2.62-2.55 (m,1H), 2.48-2.26 (s, 6H), 1.92-1.84 (m, 1H), 1.78-1.69 (m, 1H). LC/MS(ESI), m/z=351.0 [M+H]⁺ (Calc: 350.4).

Compound 5: ¹H NMR δ (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 6.62 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 6.51 (d,J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 5.93 (dd, J=8.7 Hz, 1.8 Hz, 1H), 5.64 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H),4.53 (d, J=1.8 Hz, 1H), 3.65 (s, 3H), 3.29-2.18 (m, 3H), 2.93-2.87 (m,1H), 2.58-2.39 (m, 3H), 2.36 (s, 3H), 1.98-1.82 (m, 2H), 1.56 (dd,J=12.9 Hz, 5.4 Hz, 1H). LC/MS (ESI), m/z=351.0 [M+H]⁺ (Calc: 350.4).

Example 18 Synthesis and Isolation of Compound 10

Compound 1 (20.9 g) was dissolved in IPA (350 mL) at 80° C. The solutionwas then cooled to 60° C. and TFA (5.2 mL, 1.2 eq.) was added dropwise.The mixture was cooled to ambient temperate and stirred overnight. Theproduct was filtered off. The filter cake was washed with IPA (1×30 mL)and dried to afford 25.8 g of compound 10 (94.2%) as an off-white solid.

Example 19 Synthesis of Compound 7

Compound 7 can be synthesized analogous to procedure described inExample 18 using compound 2 instead of compound 1.

Having now fully described this invention, it will be understood bythose of ordinary skill in the art that the same can be performed withina wide and equivalent range of conditions, formulations and otherparameters without affecting the scope of the invention or anyembodiment thereof.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of theinvention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spiritof the invention being indicated by the following claims.

All patents, patent applications, and publications cited herein arefully incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for increasing the proportion of the7β-epimer in an 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a 7-substituted6α,14α-ethenomorphinan or a 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethanomorphinan, saidprocess comprising: contacting a solution of the 7α/7β-epimer mixturewith an acid to provide a precipitate, and isolating the precipitate toprovide an isolated precipitate and a mother liquor.
 2. The process ofclaim 1, wherein the 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinan or the7-substituted 6α,14α-ethanomorphinan is a compound of Formula II:

wherein: G is R¹ or a hydroxyl protecting group PG; R¹ is hydrogen,alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl,arylalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl, heterocyclo,aryl, and heteroaryl portions thereof are optionally substituted with 1,2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, carboxy, alkoxy,alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; R² is (a) hydrogen, cyano,alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or carboxamido; or (b) alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl,heteroarylalkyl, (arylalkoxy)carbonyl, or (heteroarylalkoxy)carbonyl,any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents,each independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl,halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; R³¹ isselected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkenyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkenyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkenyl,arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroarylalkyl, heteroarylalkenyl,alkylcarbonyl, (arylalkyl)carbonyl, and formyl, wherein any of which,when other than formyl, is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting ofhydroxy, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl; R⁴ is selected from the group consisting ofhydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl,heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkenyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkenyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkenyl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroarylalkyl, andheteroarylalkenyl, wherein any of which, when other than hydrogen, isoptionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl,alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; and

is a single bond or a double bond.
 3. The process of claim 1 or claim 2,wherein the precipitate is isolated by filtration.
 4. The process of anyone of claims 1-3, wherein the precipitate contains an increasedproportion of the 7β-epimer as a salt relative to the 7α/7β-epimermixture.
 5. The process of claim 1, wherein the 7-substituted6α,14α-ethenomorphinan or the 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethanomorphinan is acompound of Formula III:

wherein: G is R¹ or a hydroxyl protecting group PG; R¹ is hydrogen,alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl,arylalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl, heterocyclo,aryl, and heteroaryl portions thereof are optionally substituted with 1,2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, carboxy, alkoxy,alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; R² is (a) hydrogen, cyano,alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or carboxamido; or (b) alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl,heteroarylalkyl, (arylalkoxy)carbonyl, or (heteroarylalkoxy)carbonyl,any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents,each independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl,halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; R⁴ isselected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkenyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkenyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkenyl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroarylalkyl, and heteroarylalkenyl, wherein anyof which, when other than hydrogen, is optionally substituted with 1, 2,or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the group consistingof hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, andalkoxycarbonyl; and

is a single bond or a double bond.
 6. The process of claim 5, whereinthe precipitate is isolated by filtration.
 7. The process of claim 5 or6, wherein the mother liquor contains an increased proportion of eitherthe 7β-epimer or the 7α-epimer as a salt relative to the 7α/7β-epimermixture.
 8. The process of claim 5 or 6, wherein the precipitatecontains an increased proportion of either the 7β-epimer or the7α-epimer as a salt relative to the 7α/7β-epimer mixture.
 9. A processfor purifying the 7β-epimer from an 7α/7β-epimer mixture of a7-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinan or a 7-substituted6α,14α-ethanomorphinan, said process comprising: contacting a solutionof the 7α/7β-epimer mixture with an acid under conditions conducive toprecipitation of the 7β-epimer, and isolating the precipitate to providean isolated precipitate and a mother liquor.
 10. The process of claim 9,wherein the 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinan or the 7-substituted6α,14α-ethanomorphinan is a compound of Formula II:

wherein: G is R¹ or a hydroxyl protecting group PG; R¹ is hydrogen,alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl,arylalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl, heterocyclo,aryl, and heteroaryl portions thereof are optionally substituted with 1,2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, carboxy, alkoxy,alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; R² is (a) hydrogen, cyano,alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or carboxamido; or (b) alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl,heteroarylalkyl, (arylalkoxy)carbonyl, or (heteroarylalkoxy)carbonyl,any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents,each independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl,halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; R³¹ isselected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkenyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkenyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkenyl,arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroarylalkyl, heteroarylalkenyl,alkylcarbonyl, (arylalkyl)carbonyl, and formyl, wherein any of which,when other than formyl, is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting ofhydroxy, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl; R⁴ is selected from the group consisting ofhydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl,heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkenyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkenyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkenyl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroarylalkyl, andheteroarylalkenyl, wherein any of which, when other than hydrogen, isoptionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl,alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; and

is a single bond or a double bond.
 11. The process of claim 9, whereinthe 7-substituted 6α,14α-ethenomorphinan or the 7-substituted6α,14α-ethanomorphinan is a compound of Formula III:

wherein: G is R¹ or a hydroxyl protecting group PG; R¹ is hydrogen,alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl,arylalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl, heterocyclo,aryl, and heteroaryl portions thereof are optionally substituted with 1,2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, carboxy, alkoxy,alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; R² is (a) hydrogen, cyano,alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or carboxamido; or (b) alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl,heteroarylalkyl, (arylalkoxy)carbonyl, or (heteroarylalkoxy)carbonyl,any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents,each independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl,halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; R⁴ isselected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl,(cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkenyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkenyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkenyl,arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroarylalkyl, and heteroarylalkenyl, whereinany of which, when other than hydrogen, is optionally substituted with1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl; and

is a single bond or a double bond.
 12. The process of any one of claims1-11, wherein the acid is an achiral acid.
 13. The process of any one ofclaims 1-12, wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting ofan aliphatic monocarboxylic acid and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, ora combination thereof, any of which is optionally substituted.
 14. Theprocess of any one of claims 1-13, wherein the acid is an optionallysubstituted, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid. 15.The process of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the acid is a saturatedor unsaturated C₁₋₆ aliphatic monocarboxylic acid optionally substitutedwith 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of halogen and hydroxy.
 16. The process of any one of claims1-15, wherein the acid is a saturated, unsubstituted C₁₋₄ aliphaticmonocarboxylic acid, or a saturated C₁₋₄ aliphatic monocarboxylic acidsubstituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents, each independently selectedfrom the group consisting of fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, and hydroxy.17. The process of any one of claims 1-16, wherein the acid is selectedfrom the group consisting of acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid,trichloroacetic acid, and tribromoacetic acid.
 18. The process of anyone of claims 1-13, wherein the acid is an optionally substituted,saturated or unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid.
 19. The process ofany one of claims 1-13, and 18, wherein the acid is a saturated C₂₋₆aliphatic dicarboxylic acid optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting ofhalogen and hydroxy.
 20. The process of any one of claims 1-13, 18 and19, wherein the acid is an unsaturated C₂₋₆ aliphatic dicarboxylic acidoptionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of halogen and hydroxy.
 21. Theprocess of any one of claims 1-13, and 18-20, wherein the acid isunsaturated, unsubstituted C₂₋₆ aliphatic dicarboxylic acid.
 22. Theprocess of any one of claims 1-13, and 18-21, wherein the acid isfumaric acid or maleic acid.
 23. The process of any one of claims 1-22,wherein the acid is used from about 0.5 to about 1.5 equivalents basedon the amount of the 7β-epimer.
 24. The process of any one of claims1-23, wherein the solution of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture comprises asolvent.
 25. The process of claim 24, wherein the solvent is analiphatic alcohol, an aromatic solvent, or an aliphatic ether, or acombination thereof.
 26. The process of claim 25, wherein the solvent ismethanol, ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, toluene, or cyclopentylmethyl ether, or a combination thereof.
 27. The process of any one ofclaims 1-26, wherein the solution is contacted with the achiral acid ata temperature of about 50° C. to about the boiling point of thesolution.
 28. The process of claim 27, wherein the temperature is fromabout 55° C. to about the reflux temperature of the solvent.
 29. Theprocess of claim 27 or 28, wherein the temperature is from about 60° C.to about the reflux temperature of the solvent.
 30. The process of anyone of claims 2-29, wherein G is R¹.
 31. The process of any one ofclaims 2-8 and 10-30, wherein R¹ is hydrogen.
 32. The process of any oneof claims 2-8 and 10-30, wherein R¹ is alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl. 33.The process of claims 2-8 and 10-30, wherein R¹ is (cycloalkyl)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl, wherein thecycloalkyl, heterocyclo, aryl or heteroaryl portions are optionallysubstituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selectedfrom the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, carboxy,alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl.
 34. The process of any one ofclaims 2-8 and 10-29, wherein G is PG.
 35. The process of any one ofclaims 2-8, 10-29 and 34, wherein PG is selected from the groupconsisting of alkyl, arylalkyl, heterocyclo, (heterocyclo)alkyl, acyl,silyl, and carbonate, any of which is optionally substituted.
 36. Theprocess of any one of claims 2-8, 10-29, 34 and 35, wherein PG isselected from the group consisting of alkyl, arylalkyl, heterocyclo,(heterocyclo)alkyl, benzoyl, (benzyloxy)carbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl,alkylcarbonyl, and silyl, any of which is optionally substituted. 37.The process of any one of claims 2-8, 10-29, and 34-36, wherein PG isselected from the group consisting of methyl, tert-butyl, optionallysubstituted benzyl, optionally substituted benzoyl, acetyl, trimethylsilyl, tert-butyldimethyl silyl, tert-butyldiphenyl silyl, andtri-isopropyl silyl.
 38. The process of any one of claims 2-8 and 10-37,wherein R² is hydrogen, cyano, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, orcarboxamido.
 39. The process of any one of claims 2-8 and 10-37, whereinR² is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo,aryl, heteroaryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, (arylalkoxy)carbonyl, or(heteroarylalkoxy)carbonyl, any of which is optionally substituted with1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl.
 40. The process of any one of claims 2-8, 10-37 and39, wherein R² is C₃₋₇ (cycloalkyl)(C₁₋₄)alkyl or C₃₋₇(cycloalkenyl)(C₁₋₄)alkyl, optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting ofhydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₄ alkoxycarbonyl.
 41. The process of any one ofclaims 2-8, 10-37, 39 and 40, wherein R² is cyclopropyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl,cyclobutyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, cyclopentyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or cyclohexyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl,optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkyl, halo,halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₄alkoxycarbonyl.
 42. The process of any one of claims 2-4, 10, and 12-41,wherein R³¹ is selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₂₋₆alkenyl, C₂₋₆ alkynyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkenyl, 5- to6-membered heterocyclo, C₆₋₁₂ aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, (C₃₋₇cycloalkyl)(C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl)(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇cycloalkenyl)(C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇ cycloalkenyl)(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (5- to6-membered heterocyclo)(C₁₋₆)alkyl, (5- to 6-memberedheterocyclo)(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, C₆₋₁₂ aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, C₆₋₁₂aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, 5- to10-membered heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, C₁₋₆ alkylcarbonyl, (C₆₋₁₂aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl)carbonyl, and formyl, wherein any of which, when otherthan formyl, is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents,each independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy(C₁₋₄)alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₆ alkoxycarbonyl.
 43. The process of any one ofclaims 2-4, 10, and 12-42, wherein R³¹ is C₁₋₆ alkylcarbonyl, which isunsubstituted or substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, eachindependently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, halo,halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl.
 44. The process of any one of claims 2-8 and 10-43,wherein R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₂₋₆ alkenyl, C₂₋₆ alkynyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkenyl,5- to 6-membered heterocyclo, C₆₋₁₂ aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl,(C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl)(C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl)(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇cycloalkenyl)(C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇ cycloalkenyl)(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (5- to10-membered heterocyclo)(C₁₋₆)alkyl, (5- to 6-memberedheterocyclo)(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, C₆₋₁₂ aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, C₆₋₁₂aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, and 5- to10-membered heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, wherein any of which, when otherthan hydrogen, is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents,each independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl.
 45. The process of any one of claims 2-8 and 10-44,wherein R⁴ is hydrogen or unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkyl.
 46. The process ofany one of claims 1-4, 9, 10, and 12-45, wherein the 7β-epimer is of theFormula IV:

or a salt thereof, wherein R⁵ is H or C₁₋₆ alkyl, which is unsubstitutedor substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selectedfrom the group consisting of hydroxy, hydroxy(C₁₋₄)alkyl, halo,halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl.
 47. The process of claim 46, wherein R¹ is hydrogen,C₁₋₆ alkyl, or benzyl; R² is C₂₋₆ alkenyl, cyclopropyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl,cyclopentyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or cyclohexyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl, optionally substitutedwith 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyl, andC₁₋₄ alkoxycarbonyl; and R⁴ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆ alkyl.
 48. The processof any one of claims 2-8, 10-37 and 39-47, wherein R² is unsubstitutedC₂₋₆ alkenyl or unsubstituted cyclopropyl(C₁₋₄)alkyl.
 49. The process ofany one of claims 2-8, 10-37, and 39-48, wherein R² iscyclopropylmethyl.
 50. The process of any one of claims 2-8 and 10-49,wherein

is a double bond.
 51. The process of any one of claims 2-8 and 10-49,wherein

is a single bond.
 52. The process of any one of claims 1-51, wherein theproportion of the 7β-epimer in the 7α/7β-epimer mixture is at leastabout 20%.
 53. The process of claim 52, wherein the proportion of the7β-epimer in the 7α/7β-epimer mixture is at least about 50%.
 54. Theprocess of any one of claims 1-6 and 8-53, wherein the proportion of the7β-epimer in the precipitate is at least about 60%, at least about 70%,at least about 80%, or at least about 90%.
 55. The process of claim 7,wherein the proportion of the 7β-epimer in the mother liquor is at leastabout 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, or at least about90%.
 56. A process for preparing a 7β-substituted compound of FormulaV^(b):

or a salt thereof, wherein G is R¹ or a hydroxyl protecting group PG; R¹is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkyl, arylalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl, wherein thecycloalkyl, heterocyclo, aryl, and heteroaryl portions thereof areoptionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl,carboxy, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; R² is (a) hydrogen,cyano, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or carboxamido; or (b) alkyl,alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl,heteroaryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl,arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, (arylalkoxy)carbonyl, or(heteroarylalkoxy)carbonyl, any of which is optionally substituted with1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,and alkoxycarbonyl; R⁴ is selected from the group consisting ofhydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl,heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkenyl,(cycloalkenyl)alkyl, (cycloalkenyl)alkenyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl,(heterocyclo)alkenyl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroarylalkyl, andheteroarylalkenyl, wherein any of which, when other than hydrogen, isoptionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy,alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl; R⁵ is C₁₋₆ alkyl, which isunsubstituted or substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, eachindependently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy,hydroxy(C₁₋₄)alkyl, halo, halo(C₁₋₄)alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyl, and C₁₋₄alkoxycarbonyl; said process comprising: conducting a Diels-Alderreaction between a compound of Formula VI:

wherein G and R² are as defined above, and a compound of Formula VII:

wherein R⁵ is as defined above, to form a 7α/7β-epimer mixture of thecompound of Formula V

forming a first precipitate of the 7α/7β-epimer mixture; isolating thefirst precipitate from the reaction mixture to obtain a first motherliquor; optionally reducing the volume of the first mother liquor, andcontacting the first mother liquor with an acid to provide a secondprecipitate; isolating the second precipitate to obtain the compound ofFormula V^(b) as a salt, and a second mother liquor; and optionallyconverting the acid salt into its free base.
 57. The process of claim56, wherein the first mother liquor is partially concentrated prior tocontacting with the acid.
 58. The process of claim 57, wherein thepartially concentrated first mother liquor is heated, and optionally asolvent is added to the mother liquor, to dissolve any precipitateformed during the concentration to obtain a solution.
 59. The process ofclaim 58, wherein the solvent is an aliphatic alcohol, an aromaticsolvent, or an aliphatic ether, or a combination thereof.
 60. Theprocess of claim 58 or 59, wherein the solvent is methanol, ethanol,n-propanol, iso-propanol, toluene, or cyclopentyl methyl ether, or acombination thereof.
 61. The process of any one of claims 58-60, whereinthe solvent is iso-propanol.
 62. The process of any one of claims 58-61,wherein the solution is contacted with the acid at a temperature ofabout 50° C. to about the boiling point of the solution.
 63. The processof any one of claims 58-62, wherein the temperature is from about 55° C.to about the reflux temperature.
 64. The process of any one of claims58-63, wherein the temperature is from about 60° C. to about the refluxtemperature.
 65. The process of any one of claims 56-64, wherein theacid is selected from the group consisting of an aliphaticmonocarboxylic acid and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, or a combinationthereof, any of which is optionally substituted.
 66. The process of anyone of claims 56-65, wherein the acid is a an optionally substituted,saturated or unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid.
 67. The processof any one of claims 56-66, wherein the acid is a saturated orunsaturated C₁₋₆ aliphatic monocarboxylic acid optionally substitutedwith 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of halogen and hydroxy.
 68. The process of any one of claims56-67, wherein the acid is a saturated, unsubstituted C₁₋₄ aliphaticmonocarboxylic, or is a saturated C₁₋₄ aliphatic monocarboxylic acidsubstituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents, each independently selectedfrom the group consisting of fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, and hydroxy.69. The process of any one of claims 56-68, wherein the acid is selectedfrom the group consisting of acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid,trichloroacetic acid, and tribromoacetic acid.
 70. The process of claim65, wherein the acid is an optionally substituted, saturated orunsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid.
 71. The process of claim 65 or70, wherein the acid is a saturated C₂₋₆ aliphatic dicarboxylic acidoptionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independentlyselected from the group consisting of halogen and hydroxy.
 72. Theprocess of any one of claims 65, 70 and 71, wherein the acid is anunsaturated C₂₋₆ aliphatic dicarboxylic acid optionally substituted with1, 2, or 3 substituents, each independently selected from the groupconsisting of halogen and hydroxy.
 73. The process of any one of claims56, and 70-72, wherein the acid is unsaturated, unsubstituted C₂₋₆aliphatic dicarboxylic acid.
 74. The process of any one of claims 65,and 70-73, wherein the acid is fumaric acid or maleic acid.
 75. Theprocess of any one of claims 56-74, wherein the acid is used from about0.5 to about 1.5 equivalents based on the amount of the 7β-epimer. 76.The process of any one of claims 56-75, wherein the proportion of the7β-epimer in the second precipitate is at least about 60%, at leastabout 70%, at least about 80%, or at least about 90%.
 77. A compoundselected from the group consisting of

or a salt thereof.
 78. The compound of claim 77, wherein said compoundis selected from the group consisting of


79. A compound selected from the group consisting of a salt of

and a salt of


80. The compound of claim 79, which is